British Culture: Albion Never Dies

Don't be shy, send me a message!To prepare for this podcast, I have read the Hobbit more than 30 times (once every year), I have read the Lord of the Rings twice cover to cover, and the Silmarillion at least twice. I listened to the 13-hour BBC Radio adaptation and watched the Peter Jackson films, theatrical and extended, and all the DVD bonus extras. I also watched the ‘70s animated version and a couple of documentaries on the life of Tolkien, a People’s Profile one on Youtube and a television documentary from 1996 narrated by Judi Dench... and of course, I lived as a child in Worcestershire, the inspiration for ‘the Shire’ and the real life location of Bag-End in Dormston, which was a farm belonging to Tolkein’s aunt where he stayed in 1923. It is about 15 minutes from Stratford-Upon-Avon, where Shakespeare was born. All that, just for this podcast episode. I hope you enjoy it. Message me anytime on InstagramE-mail me at: AlbionNeverDies@gmail.comCheck out my videos at: https://www.youtube.com/britishcultureCheck out my Red Bubble shopSeveral subscribers have received their postcards and other little 'thank you's, randomly drawn from the list, and two have won extra special monthly prizes!Subscribe to my newsletter: https://youtube.us9.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=b3afdae99897eebbf8ca022c8&id=5165536616Support the show

Don't be shy, send me a message!Special thanks to Caine, and a mystery writer, whose identity is revealed in the episode, and who wrote this poem:Thomas, a fan of Bond so bold, With knowledge of British tales untold,Set out to educate and teach, His passion for culture within him to reach,He spoke of knights and of lords so grand,Of misty moors and rolling green land,Of scones and tea, and royal charm, And all the history that kept Britain warm,His words were met with doubt and with fear,But Thomas pressed on, year after year, With courage and wit, and a twinkle in eye,He showed the world what Britain’s culture was highAnd though some may still not understand, Thomas’ efforts will always stand, A testament to his love and his zeal,For educating the world, a true culture connoisseur real. I love it! I also talk about Tim Berners-Lee, Time Lords, the TARDIS, and very briefly, the Thames River in London. More coming up this month.  Message me anytime on InstagramE-mail me at: AlbionNeverDies@gmail.comCheck out my videos at: https://www.youtube.com/britishcultureCheck out my Red Bubble shopSeveral subscribers have received their postcards and other little 'thank you's, randomly drawn from the list, and two have won extra special monthly prizes!Subscribe to my newsletter: https://youtube.us9.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=b3afdae99897eebbf8ca022c8&id=5165536616Support the show

Don't be shy, send me a message!The 20th letter in the 'Alphabet of Britishness', is here! I am joined by Thunderbirds super-fan Chris; known to many on Instagram as @BritishBondAddict!He previously joined me on:Episode #10: "The 7 Pillars of Britishness: An Interview with Instagram's "British Bond Addict"Episode #14: "British Bond Addict talking about Bond, James Bond"Episode #41: "'L' is for... 'London' with 'British Bond Addict' & 'From Tailors With Love' (Pete Brooker)"Episode #63: "Back in Britain #4 | A visit to London meeting "From Tailors With Love", Daniel Gaster, and "British Bond Addict""I am absolutely delighted to have him back again. We discuss 'Thunderbirds', 'Joe 90', Stingray', and a host of other Supermarionation TV shows. If you have a 't' suggestion for this month, or indeed any forthcoming letter of the alphabet (Chris messaged me about this one a long while back), please do not hesitate to get in touch with me.Message me anytime on InstagramE-mail me at: AlbionNeverDies@gmail.comCheck out my videos at: https://www.youtube.com/britishcultureCheck out my Red Bubble shopSeveral subscribers have received their postcards and other little 'thank you's, randomly drawn from the list, and two have won extra special monthly prizes!Subscribe to my newsletter: https://youtube.us9.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=b3afdae99897eebbf8ca022c8&id=5165536616Support the show

Don't be shy, send me a message!What is it like to work for a Member of Parliament in the House of Commons? This week, I talk to an insider to find out. Thank you, once again to this week's guest for making this such a special episode. I ask her what led her to work at the Palace of Westminster, how it felt to enter the ‘Mother of all Parliaments’ for the first time. We discuss the day-to-day routine and what ultimately led her to move on and work in East Asia. Personally, I am very glad she did. We first met as we worked for the same company in Mainland China!Due to votes from 29 listeners on Instagram, I also chat at the end about the special screening of Octopussy I attended last weekend (sorry, the 1 person who voted 'no').  I also explain why Episode 106 talked about British satire without even mentioning Monty Python once. I (almost) always respond to requests. Message me anytime on Instagram, or e-mail: AlbionNeverDies@gmail.comCheck out my https://www.youtube.com/britishcultureCheck out my Red Bubble shopSeveral subscribers have received their postcards and other little 'thank you's, randomly drawn from the list, and two have won extra special monthly prizes!Subscribe to my newsletter: https://youtube.us9.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=b3afdae99897eebbf8ca022c8&id=5165536616Support the show

Don't be shy, send me a message!I have been asked to cover British humour and comedy many, many times by listeners. Finally, I have given in with covering 'satire' with the 'Alphabet of Britishness'. What is 'satire'? According to Dieter Declercq, author of 'Satire, Comedy and Mental Health: Coping with the Limits of Critique' (published by the company I work for):"Satire is a genre with the purpose to critique and entertain. In other words, when we classify a form of creative expression as satire, we frame it as setting out to critique some social wrongness as well as offering aesthetic pleasures associated with entertainment. These moral and aesthetic purposes interact in satire, although neither is wholly instrumental to the other – and they ultimately also pull in different directions, which makes the genre ambiguous.”In this episode, I first ruminate on satire that I have personally seen in other countries, for example, Turkish satire and the role played by penguins during the Gezi Park protests (9 years ago), thanks to CNNTurk. I coment on Turkish humour generally, and the tale of Nasreddin Hoca and the bump in the night. I also recollect Turkish Cypriot satire, which led to a leading newspaper changing its name from 'Avrupa' to 'Afrika', a move that had very significant satirical connections. Finally, I comment on Cantonese satire, especially humourists based in Hong Kong using Winnie the Pooh, leading to a ban on images of the classic character on the Mainland of China. After all this, I finally start delving into the history of British satire, from Hogarth's 'Gin Lane' images to the rise of first Punch Magazine (including '1066 and all that'), then Private Eye magazine, and the 1980s BBC TV show 'Yes Minister'. My final recoomendation is the TV satirical quiz show 'Have I Got News For You'. Message me anytime on Instagram, or e-mail: AlbionNeverDies@gmail.comCheck out my https://www.youtube.com/britishcultureCheck out my Red Bubble shopSeveral subscribers have their postcards and other little 'thank you's in the post, randomly drawn from the list, and one has a free mug on the way!Subscribe to my newsletter: https://youtube.us9.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=b3afdae99897eebbf8ca022c8&id=5165536616Support the show

Don't be shy, send me a message!Thank you to so many, for so many great suggestions! I list the *main* ones below that I talk about:Shires (and The Shire)StonehengeSecurity ServiceStoicismStiff Upper LipSavage! Just kidding; the title ‘Sir’Sarcasm and Satire Sausage RollsScones Seaside SandringhamSPECTRESky Aside from online resources, such as the Encyclopaedia Britannica and Wikipedia, I drew inspiration and  information from 10 books: ‘The Lord of the Rings’ by J.R.R. Tolkien'A Great and Terrible King: Edward I and the Forging of Britain’ by Marc Morris‘Operation Mincemeat’ by Ben MacIntyre‘For Your Eyes Only: Ian Fleming + James Bond’ also by Ben MacIntyre'Post-War' by Tony Judt ‘Ian Fleming’s Commandos: The Story of 30 Assault Unit in WWII’ by Nicholas Rankin‘Ian Fleming and SOE’s Operation Postmaster: The Untold Top Secret Story’ by Brian Lett‘The Man with the Golden Gun’ by Ian Fleming ‘Yes Minister: The Diaries of a Cabinet Minister by the Rt Hon. James Hacker MP: Volume Two’ Edited by Jonathan Lynn and Anthony Jay‘On Her Majesty’s Secret Service’ by Ian Fleming I also recommend Simon Schama’s television documentary ‘A History of Britain’, more for the early episodes than the later ones. They are available to watch online for free on the BBC iPlayer. I also draw on information on the official SIS and Royal Family websites, along with the 'Sandwich & Food to Go' magazine'. Message me anytime on Instagram, or e-mail: AlbionNeverDies@gmail.comCheck out my https://www.youtube.com/britishcultureCheck out my Red Bubble shopSeveral subscribers have their postcards and other little 'thank you's in the post, randomly drawn from the list, and one has a free mug on the way!Subscribe to my newsletter: https://youtube.us9.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=b3afdae99897eebbf8ca022c8&id=5165536616Support the show

Don't be shy, send me a message!Joining me to talk about this remarkable series of novels is British author Roland Hulme, described in his Amazon biography as "a digital Don Draper with a Hemingway complex - one of the world's foremost experts on social media and interactive marketing". Roland was born in the UK, but is currently living and working across the Atlantic in the USA. You can find him on Instagram and Youtube.I last had him on the podcast last to talk about Lady Chatterley's Lover, so I am delighted to draw on his literary expertise once again!Roland is the author of the Knuckleheads Motorcycle Club books, 'High Point', and also the Adventure Eddie series. He is a successful romance / adventure novelist, and here gives me his unique take on the works of Leslie Charteris, and the 1960s TV show starring Roger Moore that was inspired by them. He explains what makes the books so special, which one to start with (The Saint in New York), and why.  I hope you enjoy our discussion. I did!Message me anytime on Instagram, or e-mail: AlbionNeverDies@gmail.comCheck out my https://www.youtube.com/britishcultureCheck out my Red Bubble shopSupport the show

Don't be shy, send me a message!Happy New Year! Yes! The 'Alphabet of Britishness' is back!!S is for... Sport!I talk about the British codification of football (or 'soccer'), and how this was affected by the development of the railways, recommending Michael Portillo's 'Great British Railway Journeys'. I also talk about cricket, the magnificent beard of W.G. Grace, and 363 day Premiership of former cricketer Alec Douglas-Home. I spend the longest time looking into the origins of snooker in British India. [Minute 12]S is for... Scotland I look at Roman Scotland, which actually surprised me because like many I tend to think of life beyond The Wall(s) as non-Roman. I amuse myself with the historical inaccuracies of Braveheart. I also can't resist talking about the non-historicity of 'clan tartans' which is always a fun topic.  My Recommended Rabbit Hole: Scots of the British Empire [Minute 23]S is for... SAS (Special Air Service) and SBS (Special Boat Service)Here, I go through an obituary of Paddy Ashdown, a well-known liberal politician in the UK who had a special forces and diplomatic background. I felt his colourful early career would be of particular interest to international listeners. I take much of my information from The Guardian, which would tend to be critical of such exploits.***Since the Alphabet of Britishness is now a monthly project, feel free to message me with more suggestions for 'S'. There certainly is one more coming up. Next week, Episode 104 will be "S" is for... "The Saint" with a very special guest. Stay tuned for that, coming up on January 10th, 2023.Message me anytime on Instagram, or e-mail: AlbionNeverDies@gmail.comCheck out my https://www.youtube.com/britishcultureCheck out my Red Bubble shopSeveral subscribers have their postcards and other little 'thank you's in the post, randomly drawn from the list, and one has a free mug on the way!Subscribe to my newsletter: https://youtube.us9.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=b3afdae99897eebbf8ca022c8&id=5165536616Support the show

Don't be shy, send me a message!After over 100 episodes looking at the positive definition of 'Britishness', it's time to ask what are the limits to 'Britishness'? A negative definition of 'Britishness' attempts to define it by what it is not. Boundaries. To this end, I use the BFI (British Film Institute) rubric to test the 'Britishness' levels of the original 1977 Star Wars movie (A New Hope). The rubric is as follows:Section A – cultural contentA1: Film set in the UK or a European Economic Area (EEA) – Up to 4 pointsA2: Lead characters British or EEA citizens or residents – Up to 4 points A3: Film based on British or EEA subject matter or underlying material – 4 points A4: Original dialogue recorded mainly in English or UK indigenous language or EEA language – Up to 6 pointsSection B – cultural contributionThe film demonstrates British creativity, British heritage and/or diversity – Up to 4 pointsSection C – cultural hubsC1:(a) At least 50% of the principal photography or SFX takes place in the UK – 2 points (b) At least 50% of the VFX takes place in the UK – 2 points (c) An extra 2 points can be awarded if at least 80% of principal photography or VFX or SFX takes place in the UK – 2 points C2: Music Recording/Audio Post Production/Picture Post Production – 1 pointSection D – cultural practitionersD1: Director – 1 point D2: Scriptwriter – 1 point D3: Producer – 1 point D4: Composer – 1 point D5: Lead actors – 1 pointD6: Majority of cast – 1 point D7: Key staff (lead cinematographer, lead production designer, lead costume designer, lead editor, lead sound designer, lead visual effects supervisor, lead hair and makeup supervisor) – 1 point D8: Majority of crew – 1 pointTotal available points: 35 (I mis-speak at the start of the episode, correcting myself later)Number of points needed to pass the Britishness test: 18 pointshttps://www.bfi.org.uk/apply-british-certification-tax-relief/cultural-test-film/summary-points-cultural-test-film***I refer to several books throughout the episode:Tales of the Perilous Realmby J.R.R. Tolkien Star Wars: The Magic of Mythby Mary HendersonThe Making of Star Wars: The Definitive Story Behind the Scenes of the Original Filmby J.W. RinzlerThe Hero With A Thousand Facesby Joseph Campbell Message me anytime on Instagram, or e-mail: AlbionNeverDies@gmail.comCheck out my https://www.youtube.com/britishcultureCheck out my Red Bubble shopSomething that really is new is my newsletter. Several subscribers have their postcards and other little 'thank you's in the post, just randomly drawn from the list!Subscribe to my newsletter: https://youtube.us9.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=b3afdae99897eebbf8ca022c8&id=5165536616Support the show

Don't be shy, send me a message!Merry Christmas! I hope you're having a wonderful day. Just a quick chat, as I know some people might have 3 minutes to spare as they dash in a car somewhere, or find some time to themselves, to wish you all a very merry Christmas. Support the show