Pop Culture in Britain

1
Pop Culture in Britain
2
British popular music

• The Beatles
• led a British invasion into American (and
  global) popularity in music
• led the creation of what are now music videos
• reflected in interests Britains imperial
  heritage .

3
British Popular Music Today

• Some British pop stars, like Robbie Williams and
  Kylie Minogue, are succeeding on world pop charts.

4
Cornershop

• Indians and cornershops
• Reflects British Imperial heritage and migrants
• musical style mixes Indian and other Western
  popular music styles (rock, trip-hop, disco)

5
Techno and Ravers

• As far as the English-speaking world is
  concerned, rave culture seems to have first
  flowered in London.

6
Other Stuff

• The diversity that surrounds this allows other
  styles, including regional styles like the
  Bristol Sound, to receive attention worldwide

7
British Media - TV

• BBC TV is publicly funded (by tax) in Britain
• no adverts
• world famous for news, sports, and original
  programs, including many re-adapted for American
  TV

8
Alternatives for The Telly

• In the past few years, satellite and cable TV
  have grown in popularity.
• Popular local programs of the past and present
  include...

9
Monty Pythons Flying Circus
10
Soap Dramas

• East Enders and, before it, Carnation Street
  were widely popular soap dramas, mostly featuring
  characters that seem slightly mundane or tame
  compared to in American soap operas.

11
Imported Formats Programs

• GAME SHOWS Weakest Link
• REALITY TVUK Pop Idol/X-FactorBig Brother
• FOREIGNPROGRAMSSex The City,Friends, The
  West Wing

12
UK Pop Idol / X-Factor

• What is the real purpose of this show?
• to discover new pop stars?
• or to entertain us with the awfulness of people
  who think they are talented, but arent?Check
  this out...

13
Newspapers and Class

• Tabloid sleazier, more gossip, sometimes include
  nude pictures or scandals
• Broadsheet more news- and politics-oriented,
  less focused on stars and scandal

14
The Royal Family

• Generally occupy a role in British culture
  similar to that occupied by Hollywood stars in
  America.
• Not politically powerful anymore, although they
  are wealthy and often mentioned in the media.
• While the UK is technically a monarchy, British
  persons are generally considered citizens, not
  subjects of the royal family.

15
Queen Elizabeth II

• b.1926, took the crown 1952
• technically head of British state, and head of
  the Church of England
• delivers a speech annually at Christmas,
  participates in various public functions, etc.

16
Charles, Prince of Wales

• son of Elizabeth, will be next King of England
• married Diana, now Camilla Parker-Bowles
• Father to Princes William and Harry

17
Changing AttitudesToward the Royals?

• BBC Poll (2002)
• Is the monarchy out of date?
• Yes 32 (44)
• No 63 (45)
• Does the royal family cost too much money?
• Yes 51 (62)
• No 43 (30)

http//www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/sto
ries/2002/06_june/12/monarchy_poll.shtml
18
Why is Soccer so Popular?

• Very little gear required, so kids develop an
  interest by playing
• Local community spirit expressed in sides
• Easy and popular topic of discussion in pubs
• Because it's promoted

19
So, Soccer

• Divisions
• New local teams can, in theory, form, move up the
  ladder, and become top-division teams if they
  perform well
• Part of a wider network of European competition
• World Cup is VERY important.
• And then theres rugby...

20
Racial/Cultural Diversity in Britain

• The UK is, overall, 7.9 nonwhite
• London itself is 28.9 nonwhite.

• Many immigrants from Commonwealth countries --
  ex-colonies -- but also people from elsewhere.

21
Diversity and Pop Culture

• This diversity has affected popular culture in
  many ways.
• food culture
• figures in entertainment
• musical styles
• social tensions problems

22
Is The United Kingdom Really United?

• Most of this session has in fact focused on
  English popular culture.
• Some other people in the UK reject the label
  British, because of colonial history.
• Local popular culture in Scotland, Ireland, and
  Wales also differs in some ways.
• RP
• Trainspotting