Britain and British Culture

I believe british culture is dieing out. We are constantly bringing up the past of what we used to have. yet noone actually realises that all sustanance, culture, or for that matter INTELLIGENCE is all but extinct in the mind and soul of the british people.
For example that katie and peter program or whatever it is was voted no2 program in britain, the no1 watched program was big brother -_-. Im sorry but doesnt that just clearly show that the culture of britain is all but dead.
Maybe my faith in culture in britain is so blunt as i am from liverpool, and yes i know liverpool was named capital of culture. BUT IM SORRY it is not. Yeh sure we have some magnificant cultural landmarks with feats of arcitecture randonmly dotted around the city and yes we have a diversity of racial communities living within liverpool. BUT THIS DOES NOT MAKE LIVERPOOL CULTURED.
The people of liverpool are 2 put it frank thick . . . well 2 be fair not all residants of the "great" city of liverpool are intellectually chalenged it is those who live on the estates (which is 95% of the city) have a huge lack of culture.
What makes a cultured city , country, planet. Is the views, ideas and intelligence of the people. and sadly ALOT, yet not all . of the people in britain have no pride in themselves or there people.
the english are disliked throughout the world and hated for being being known as "football hooligans" . infact thats what killed this country . . . football culture -_-

Stuie256:

I believe british culture is dieing out. We are constantly bringing up the past of what we used to have. yet noone actually realises that all sustanance, culture, or for that matter INTELLIGENCE is all but extinct in the mind and soul of the british people.
For example that katie and peter program or whatever it is was voted no2 program in britain, the no1 watched program was big brother -_-. Im sorry but doesnt that just clearly show that the culture of britain is all but dead.
Maybe my faith in culture in britain is so blunt as i am from liverpool, and yes i know liverpool was named capital of culture. BUT IM SORRY it is not. Yeh sure we have some magnificant cultural landmarks with feats of arcitecture randonmly dotted around the city and yes we have a diversity of racial communities living within liverpool. BUT THIS DOES NOT MAKE LIVERPOOL CULTURED.
The people of liverpool are 2 put it frank thick . . . well 2 be fair not all residants of the "great" city of liverpool are intellectually chalenged it is those who live on the estates (which is 95% of the city) have a huge lack of culture.
What makes a cultured city , country, planet. Is the views, ideas and intelligence of the people. and sadly ALOT, yet not all . of the people in britain have no pride in themselves or there people.
the english are disliked throughout the world and hated for being being known as "football hooligans" . infact thats what killed this country . . . football culture -_-

Well your respect for spelling and grammar rules clearing shows that you're an intelligent individual doing their best at preserving British culture.

I love the fact that there's always a nice little cafe to go to.
But, I hate the chavs.:grr:

Yeah chavs and neds make me sad :'(

They've ruined Orkney for me. You can't cross a street without being wolf-whistled at, and there is often broken alcopop bottles all over children's playparks :( Those are only some of the problems caused by them!

But I could never leave Britain, The food's good, I love my accent (try an english-scottish mix!)AND we drive on the left side of the road!! XD

Also, I might get lost in a bigger country O_o

Stuie256:

I believe british culture is dieing out. We are constantly bringing up the past of what we used to have. yet noone actually realises that all sustanance, culture, or for that matter INTELLIGENCE is all but extinct in the mind and soul of the british people.
For example that katie and peter program or whatever it is was voted no2 program in britain, the no1 watched program was big brother -_-. Im sorry but doesnt that just clearly show that the culture of britain is all but dead.
Maybe my faith in culture in britain is so blunt as i am from liverpool, and yes i know liverpool was named capital of culture. BUT IM SORRY it is not. Yeh sure we have some magnificant cultural landmarks with feats of arcitecture randonmly dotted around the city and yes we have a diversity of racial communities living within liverpool. BUT THIS DOES NOT MAKE LIVERPOOL CULTURED.
The people of liverpool are 2 put it frank thick . . . well 2 be fair not all residants of the "great" city of liverpool are intellectually chalenged it is those who live on the estates (which is 95% of the city) have a huge lack of culture.
What makes a cultured city , country, planet. Is the views, ideas and intelligence of the people. and sadly ALOT, yet not all . of the people in britain have no pride in themselves or there people.
the english are disliked throughout the world and hated for being being known as "football hooligans" . infact thats what killed this country . . . football culture -_-

You are coming off a little but elitist.

But meh. I watch 'pop culture' sometimes and it doesn't rot my immortal soul or me brain cells.

I mean, I heckled Jimmy Carr once because he was confusing dissociative identity disorder and schizophrenia which is very annoying. :XD

But then again, I enjoy 'cultured' things such as poetry (I have a subscription to PN Review), art and literature. And I watch BBC4 a lot. And I occasionally buy the Independant or the Times - depending what's left in the store.

But that's just the whole fame/celebrity culture that makes out fame to be the most attainable thing you could possibly go for.

I mean, I only know a few people from Big Brother although I actually watched Series 9. And Hollyoaks. They are usually considered the epitome of what is wrong with this country.

But it's plain to see that this is hardly a new thing. Much of the olde timey culture was squarely aimed at the masses: Shakespeare, Dickens etc. But now, there's no challenge to the mind. The 'high culture' end of things has ostracised itself with 'modernism' and 'post-modernism' as they seem - to the masses - to be snobby, up-it's-own-arse and you need a degree to decipher what they actually mean.

The Beeb have tried - and are still trying - to change that message with their recent Poetry Season which has made me very happy. And it had Robert Webb talk about TS Eliot. Which is epic win if I must say so.

So, I don't think it's in decline. I think there is dumbing down but 'high culture' is not making things easier by trying to be a bit more accessible. Even by a fragment.

But hey, I live on a council estate and can recite most of Ariel by Sylvia Plath.

Scum.:

But it's plain to see that this is hardly a new thing. Much of the olde timey culture was squarely aimed at the masses: Shakespeare, Dickens etc. But now, there's no challenge to the mind. The 'high culture' end of things has ostracised itself with 'modernism' and 'post-modernism' as they seem - to the masses - to be snobby, up-it's-own-arse and you need a degree to decipher what they actually mean.

I think cultural elitism existed during the time of Shakespeare or Dickens. It was certainly there for their contemporaries. A lot of people note the fact that Shakespeare never attended univesity, whilst his contemporary Christopher Marlowe had two degrees from Cambridge (although both came from very similar backgrounds). I think cultural snobbery existed, especially given Robert Greene's infamous insult to Shakespeare as an 'upstart crow'. The so-called 'University Wits' on the Elizabethan scene were very 'intellectual', and didn't like the idea of Shakespeare, who began his career as an actor, suddenly becoming an enormously popular dramatist too.

It's ironic in a way, because most people now probably haven't heard of Christopher Marlowe or Robert Greene. I mean, I always want to call him Nick Greene because I get confused with him and a character in a Virginia Woolfe novel. Yet everybody has heard of Shakespeare. Much as I think Marlowe is brilliant, and some people even argue that he's better than Shakespeare, in terms of awareness he just doesn't compare.

It's an earlier example of cultural snobbery but it could very much be compared with what goes on today. Not that I can talk, because I'm probably just as much a cultural snob or elitist as the people who go on Newsnight review. Just a less extreme version. I think if more people stopped watching Big Brother watching exhibitionists and faux celebrities and went to free art or museum exhibitions instead, then the world would be a better place. Hm.

We do have culture in our nation but unfortunatley it is dying away since people have it in their heads that we must be like America. We have all the history that not many countries have and I, for one think that more people need to embrace it.
The thing with Shakesphere is that in his time he was popular culture, it ws considered as low rent entertainment since a lot of non wealthy people saw his plays, but since it is old we now see it as high culture today.

The Fink:

I love the fact that there's always a nice little cafe to go to.
But, I hate the chavs.:grr:

I am not a chav, but in a way I am proud of them. Like lochness said - we're mirroring the americans in more than one way. Most of the British stereotypes are from american origins, but chavs, they're 100% British. I mean, where else could you find 'council housed and violent' teens?

I don't agree with a few people saying 'Britain's culture is disappearing!' because it hasn't, it's just changing all the time. Culture is always here and around us, no matter how 'bad' it is considered to be.

I also find it a bit harsh with a few people on here talking about 'chavs' in a certain way... I actually find that kind of snobby, no offence intended.

I do think our culture is pretty weird though, if I'm honest. The obsession with celebrity gets to me a bit sometimes. And I agree with the fact that we are now very Americanized, but we have been for some time.

I don't know too much about politics in Britain, but I know enough to say that I really don't trust either the Labour or Conservative party. I can understand a lot of people's fear about a new Conservative goverment, but at the same time you have to ask: what's the alternative?

I'm glad I've decided to take Goverment and Politics for A Level 'cause I really want to understand a lot more than I already do. ;p

I do agree though that a lot of the music that's come out of Britain is great! ;D

And I also hate The Daily Mail. D:
I've read it before and have just thought 'what the fuck? They didn't print that'. A lot of it is just laughable.
Their bias towards the Conservatives just smacks you in the face! xD

lochnessmonster:

We do have culture in our nation but unfortunatley it is dying away since people have it in their heads that we must be like America.

That is definitely true, and to an extent it annoys me. I mean it is inevitable that growing up in an enviroment highly influenced by American culture that it will have an impact on everyone, but some people just take it too far! There was this girl at school who used to try and talk in an American accent. It made me annoyed! omgno:

Everyone here tries to use American words it just really gets up my goat. Not that I don't like American's, I am part American I just think there is no need for it when we live in Britain.
Britain as a nation cannot stand success and do not trust anyone, especially after the 7/7 attacks. Someone asks you for the time and you think they're going to mug you. We can't trust each other let alone politicains.
It's a very sad state of affairs.

cracked polystyrene:

I don't know too much about politics in Britain, but I know enough to say that I really don't trust either the Labour or Conservative party. I can understand a lot of people's fear about a new Conservative goverment, but at the same time you have to ask: what's the alternative?

I'm glad I've decided to take Goverment and Politics for A Level 'cause I really want to understand a lot more than I already do. ;p

I think the Liberal Democrats are a good alternative. For me, the best alternative would be to reform the electoral system into one which allows for the number of votes cast to directly determine the number of seats (proportional representation). That way, the Green party and the Lib Dems would do a lot better electorally so there would be more alternatives, instead of this current Labour/Tory choice, which in my opinion, isn't really a good one.

I'm almost done with my Politics A Level and I have to say that it's definitely one of the most interesting subjects I've ever studied. I mean, I was quite a politics nerd and knew a fair amount beforehand, but the knowledge I have now is really empowering. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. (:

^ We use a mixed system of PR and FPTP (First Past the Post) in the Scottish Executive.

But I am a huge fan of the Lib Dems. Ran for the a few years back in my school.

came third. Twas good.

lochnessmonster:

Britain as a nation cannot stand success and do not trust anyone, especially after the 7/7 attacks. Someone asks you for the time and you think they're going to mug you. We can't trust each other let alone politicains.
It's a very sad state of affairs.

God, yeah I definitely agree with you on that! I was going to say something like that before, but you summed it up a lot better than I could of. ;p

I tend to find that we as people are very cynical. It just reminds me of Susan Boyle in the media recently. It just seems like we can't stand to see others do better than us, not really me personally, but you hear people that think like that a lot of the time.

Bloodraine:

cracked polystyrene:

I don't know too much about politics in Britain, but I know enough to say that I really don't trust either the Labour or Conservative party. I can understand a lot of people's fear about a new Conservative goverment, but at the same time you have to ask: what's the alternative?

I'm glad I've decided to take Goverment and Politics for A Level 'cause I really want to understand a lot more than I already do. ;p

I think the Liberal Democrats are a good alternative. For me, the best alternative would be to reform the electoral system into one which allows for the number of votes cast to directly determine the number of seats (proportional representation). That way, the Green party and the Lib Dems would do a lot better electorally so there would be more alternatives, instead of this current Labour/Tory choice, which in my opinion, isn't really a good one.

I'm almost done with my Politics A Level and I have to say that it's definitely one of the most interesting subjects I've ever studied. I mean, I was quite a politics nerd and knew a fair amount beforehand, but the knowledge I have now is really empowering. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. (:

Oh yeah, I have been talking to my parents a bit about that recently because I was reading the paper and I got really confused. :tehe: I definitely agree with that though, it would be a lot better that way.

And thanks, I've heard it's a really good A Level to take! :D
It's just recently I got interested in Politics with not knowing much about it, and to be honest I wasn't all that bothered about Media (which I dropped to take it).

Liberal Democrats is now my local MP. All of us students voted him in.

I'm Scottish... but apathetic about independence... :shifty

I do enjoy English/British culture, but it seems like Britain has less of an identity now.
Like, it's not all luscious green countryside and afternoon tea and Jane Austen any more.
It's not even goths and punks and black comedy any more.
It's different now.
I think Britain needs to grow up a little. I think it needs more modern culture.

^ But that's what everyone thinks Britain is like.

It's all summer teas with crumpets and clotted cream. It's teasets and Imperialism and 'dry wit' It's overtly posh accents or Cockney 'have-a-banana'. It's nostalgia.

I think there is a heap of culture in our country but it's hidden. We need a new movement in culture to open this up.

I love Britain. I know I bitch on about the crap weather most of the time, but to be honest, it'shome. Everywhere else sounds dangerous, I feel safe in the UK, it's so beautiful. And c'mon, Welsh cakes own all.

Jack Bassam Barakat.:

I also wish everyone would stop getting shocked everytime I say I don't like tea.
So what I'm English?
Doesn't mean I have to like it.

I'm the same, but my mother's Italian, so I just blame her.

Lois?!:

I love Britain. I know I bitch on about the crap weather most of the time, but to be honest, it'shome. Everywhere else sounds dangerous, I feel safe in the UK, it's so beautiful. And c'mon, Welsh cakes own all.

Yeah, I have to agree. It is home. And I actually quite like the 'crap' weather. :XD I burn too easily if it's too hot, and well, I like the rain and cold.

The only thing I don't really like are the chavs. :| -shudder- They're making this country go way downhill. No offence intended. :shifty But really, they're violent, they're widely known for under-age drinking and smoking, teen pregnancies, and basically living off government benefits.

^ I was brought up on government benefits and I am living on a student bursary and loan - without which I would probably end up in the categories that you have just described.

I'm not violent per se, but I have a foul temper and have a tendency to wish to annahilate the entire human race. But then I turn on TV and it goes away.

I have drank underage. I know a lot of good mothers who were teens.

There's a difference between 'chavs' or 'neds' and the rest of my fetid class designation.