Culturethèque
The Alternative Albion
What do these things have in common: biscuits, festivity and a touch of traditionalism? The isle of Albion of course! As the jubilee fast approaches, I am forever searching high and low for the changes in British society. Don’t you worry, I have not gone to the dark side (anthropology). I am merely doing what a Franco-Anglo kid has been taught: c'est en forgeant qu'on devient forgeron…
So you think you know the ins and outs of your city/town/village with a quick Google? Think again. From the zenith of 1966 FIFA to the absolute catastrophe of this year’s Eurovision entry, Britain has changed yet stayed the same. The key is to look at the label and not the washing instructions…
”Boy George is all England needs- another Queen who can’t dress” (Joan Rivers)
Many of you regular readers will know that my interest in Elizabeth I (1533-1603) is on the verge of stalky. Well, here she is again: the prime example of Britain’s quirkiness. Why did she risk all health warnings to paint her face white? Why did she never marry, despite the insistence of the most handsome pick of Europe? And why did she insist on the closeness to her people? For public opinion of course! The epitome of British-ness is not found in the bottom of your Heinz tomato ketchup, no no, it is found in the depths of free speech: a characteristic which really has stood the test of time. Why, you only need to stroll through Hyde Park corner to see for yourself the various platforms of expression…
You never find an Englishman among the underdogs, except in England of course (Evelyn Waugh)
You said it Mr Waugh, the burst of conservatism has never left Britain. I am certainly not talking about Cameron and his crew, I am pointing towards the “country house society”. This fits to every situation from Henry VIII’s (1491-1574) break with the Roman Church to the early vote out of “Twem” in X-Factor. But what about the “Americanisation” I hear you cry? You only need to be an examiner to see the persistence of students who use “s” instead of “z” for such words…
So keep calm and carry on as I bid farewell to thee. I leave a small clip to summarise our findings…until next time!
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