British Culture: Albion Never Dies

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

Don't be shy, send me a message!Today, I’m talking about:(1) T is for… ThomasI talk about my experience in China, with Chinese social media and blogs, which led me ultimately to creating my @FlemingNeverDies Instagram account, and this podcast, which I chose *not* to give the same name. (2) What have I learned?Social media works best when it is more 'social' than 'media'.Where you stand depends on where you sit; as I gained perspectives from around the world, and as I move betwen China, the USA, and the UK itself. Where you stand depends on *when* you sit; the lag between perception and reality, which can be increased through geographic distance.(3) 1-100 in ten minutesOkay, maybe not a whole ten minutes here, but I talk about how my podcast evolved from its initial form - influenced by Chinese social media - to the regular podcast you now get every week.(4) Where next?Learning a lesson from Elliot Carver (or was it James Bond?), I will remember the first rule of mass media and give the people what they want: I will bring back 'The Alphabet of Britishness'.I will finally review Bond content (I've resisted this one a long time) I will create more Youtube videos, both uploading the 'deep dives' there and 5 minute video-only content. Plenty to look forward to, and plenty of room for your suggestions. 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=5165536616 Support the show

Don't be shy, send me a message!British Christmas traditions feel universal and timeless to us Brits... yet as my interviewee Caine explains, Christmas has changed a great deal since the time of the first Christians in Britain, and indeed, since the first Christians!This is a special two-hour truly deep dive into what makes Christmas special, and what aspects are specially British. There are little breaks, so feel free to listen to this in installments. That's how we intended it to be listened to. (But if you want to listen to it all in one go, all power to you!)Message me anytime on Instagram, or e-mail: AlbionNeverDies@gmail.comFollow Caine on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/videosbycaineCheck 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!The number one movie on Netflix (UK) right now is the latest adaptation of D.H. Lawrence's "Lady Chatterley's Lover". Joining me to talk about this remarkable novel 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 October, so we are overdue another appearance!Roland is the author of the Knuckleheads Motorcylcle Club books, 'High Point', and also the Edventure Eddie series. He got his start writing romantic fiction, and here gives me his unique take on Lady Chatterley's Lover,  by D. H. Lawrence, which was published in a limited English-language edition in Florence (1928) and in Paris (1929). and then in England in an expurgated edition in 1932. The full text was published only in 1959 in New York City and in 1960 in London, when it was the subject of a landmark obscenity trial that turned largely on the justification of the use in the book of until-then taboo sexual terms. This episode is, as always, a clean-language podcast. I hope you enjoy our discussion. 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!This week's episode looks at:Edith Nesbit: British children’s author, novelist, and poet. Among many other stories, she wrote, '5 Children and It' which I talk about here.The Dreyfus Affair: a sandal that captured the world's attention (and was obliquely references in 'The Railway Children').The TV Show: starring Jenny Agutter in BBC black and white glory.The Film (1970): there are, of course, many movie adaptations, but this one is the classic, and no film review of any of the others fails to mention that!The Railway itself: the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway (yes, pronounced 'Keith-ley'), a fantastic place to visit in West Yorkshire, and home to the films.I hope you enjoy this - just over thirty minute - episode... and the poems. Couldn't resist. Oh, and I also announce the competition winner. Stay subscribed so you don't miss out!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