Exploring topics such as the changing notions of Englishness over the past 60 years, the representation of suburbia in England, the significance of the Country House in England, the emotional language and imagery in the Brexit campaign, and the endurance of the English temperament.
The podcast explores how memories of World War II have shaped the concept of Englishness, influencing conservationist arguments and narratives of resilience in contemporary contexts like the COVID-19 pandemic.
Country houses have evolved from symbols of power and wealth to reflections of societal hierarchies, facing financial and cultural pressures while still embodying Englishness.
Deep dives
Changes in England since the 1960s
The podcast discusses the changes in England since the 1960s in various aspects, such as attitudes towards the built and natural environments, shifts in England's place in the wider world, and the evolving concept of Englishness. These changes have influenced how different people and institutions perceive and claim England, often using landscape and place as lenses to explore these themes.
The Significance of World War II in Shaping Englishness
The podcast explores how memories of World War II have played a critical role in constructing Englishness. The war has been invoked as a reference point for conservationist and heritage arguments, as well as in contemporary contexts such as the COVID-19 pandemic, where parallels were drawn between patriotic resilience during the war and the collective efforts of society. The wartime background of individuals like Sir Tom Moore also became prominent in narratives of resilience and national unity.
Country Houses as Symbols of Englishness
Country houses have long served as symbols of Englishness, embodying power, wealth, and status. Over time, their meanings have evolved. From medieval castles defending against royal power, to displays of stability and wealth in the 18th century, to representations of a vanished world in present times. While many country houses have been lost or converted, some have adapted by opening to the public or becoming heritage sites. They continue to reflect the hierarchies of modern society, even as they face financial and cultural pressures.
THE ENGLISH: Laurie Taylor asks how the country house became ‘English’ and explores changing notions of Englishness over the past 60 years. He’s joined by Stephanie Barczewski, Professor of Modern British History at Clemson University, South Carolina and author of a new book which examines the way the country house came to embody national values of continuity and stability, even though it has lived through eras of violence and disruption. Also, David Matless, Professor of Cultural Geography at Nottingham University, considers the way that England has been imagined since the 1960s, from politics to popular culture, landscape and music. How have twenty-first-century concerns and anxieties in the Brexit moment been moulded by events over previous decades?
Producer: Jayne Egerton
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