The past couple months I've emerged myself in a study of British culture and history. This recent fascination was first inspired by the film Shakespeare in Love. This made way for a study of William Shakespeare as well as a thorough historical study of the English Monarchy. It seems quite fitting now, that I wrap up this phase with a basic study of British culture. I should also say that I have been wanting to make this post for quite some time now.
This hasn't been my first British appreciation phase, and surely won't be my last. As a lifelong American citizen, it seems British history has always been ingrained into our society. After all we speak their English language. Our country was first colonized by British immigrants and it was against them that our independence was won. The United States and the United Kingdom have come a long way since their colonial tensions, and they have now become greatest and most special allies. So naturally British culture has always had significant roots in American society.
There have been many notable British painters dating back to the Medieval days, to the Renaissance, Romantic era, and into the Victorian era. One of my all time favorite visual artists is the landscape painter, J.M.W Turner. His paintings have a masterful blend of realism with impressionism thru his use of water-colored light. Many of his paintings depict stunning landscapes or historical settings with a hint of abstract coloring. One of my favorite works of his is the oil painting of the Fighting Temeraire (1838).
Some other notable British artists include William Blake, Thomas Gainsborough, John Constable, John Everett Millais, Francis Bacon, and John William Waterhouse (another one of my favorites) .
One of the oldest British monuments dates back to the prehistoric times, with Stonehenge believe to have been constructed in 2400 BC. During the Medieval times, England built many castles and cathedrals of architectural wonder such as the Windsor Castle (it's longest standing castle to this day). In the 12th century they incorporated a style of English Gothic architecture, which featured arches, vaulted roofs, buttresses, large windows, and spires. Some famous examples include the Westminster Abbey, the Canterbury Cathedral, and the Winchester Cathedral.
Following the Great Fire of 1666, much of London had to be rebuilt. Britain thus entered a new stage of architecture during it's Baroque era which lasted thru the 1800s. Many masterful buildings were designed using a new style of Georgian and Victorian architecture. This was a return to classical such as Buckingham Palace, the House of Parliament, St. Paul's Cathedral, and the Tower Bridge of London. In the 1900s they embarked on modernist architecture to cater to the booming business and technological markets of it's time. Some examples of these modern buildings include Lloyd's Building and Swiss Re Building (also known as the The Gherkin).
The first thing that comes to mind when I think of British music is of course my favorite band of all time, the Beatles. Their rebellious rock and roll style defined the 1960s counterculture era and made way for a British invasion of new music. Many British bands thrived during this time and have made a significant impact on musical culture such as The Rolling Stones, The Who, Led Zeppelin, and Pink Floyd (some of my favorites). Even after the 1960s, Great Britain continued to lead the way with great popular musicians such as Eric Clapton, Elton John, David Bowie, Sex Pistols, The Clash, Van Morrison, Spice Girls, Adele, and another of my favorites Coldplay.
However even before the 1960s, when Britain became a thriving place for popular music, they still had a long, rich, and patriotic musical tradition. Folk songs and nursery rhymes date back to the 1500s, with popular tunes such as "London Bridge" and "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star". The national anthem, "God Save the Queen" is a homage to their longstanding monarchy and proud tradition. In the 1900s, composers such as Edward Elgar and Benjamin Brittain helped bring an identity to British classical music.
I've already written numerous times about my appreciation for English soccer (see The English Football League, Barclays Premier League, The FA Cup, 2014 EPL clubs) so I won't spend too much time on that sport here. I will mention however that their fans are some of the most passionate in the world. Their national team has had some good runs in the World Cup, including a championship in 1966 when they hosted the tournament. Also worth mentioning is that the rules of association futbol were first drafted in the UK in 1863, and they have some of the oldest clubs in the world.
Some other very popular sports that originated in the United Kingdom are the sport of golf. It's modern day format became popular in Scotland in the late 1500s and soon the game spread throughout Britain. Other sports that originated in Britain include boxing, rugby, tennis, horse-racing, and cricket.
Britain serves as host to many notable national tournaments in these sports including the Wimbledon Tennis Championships and the British Golf Open Championships. They also played an important role in formatting the modern day Olympic games, and have hosted in 1908, 1948, and 2012.
This hasn't been my first British appreciation phase, and surely won't be my last. As a lifelong American citizen, it seems British history has always been ingrained into our society. After all we speak their English language. Our country was first colonized by British immigrants and it was against them that our independence was won. The United States and the United Kingdom have come a long way since their colonial tensions, and they have now become greatest and most special allies. So naturally British culture has always had significant roots in American society.
When I think of British culture, so much comes to mind; their medieval history of castles, kings and queens in the likes of King Henry VIII and Queen Elizabeth. Their theater and literature that gave way to the greatest poets of all time such as William Shakespeare. Their vast colonial empire that spans the globe to this day. Their strength during WWII, led by their greatest prime minister, Winston Churchill. Their rock and roll music that gave way to the British Invasion of the 1960s led by the Beatles. And one of my most favorite custom of theirs is their association football, the English Premiere League. To me, British culture has always been very influential on American yet also global society. They have a proud heritage that is derived from their historical traditions.
British History
I spent several weeks studying the British Monarchy, (see English Monarchy) so I won't get too much into it in this section. However I do want to briefly highlight it's most modern history, which has become an age of British decolonization. The transition from absolute monarchy to constitutional monarchy began in the early 1700s, which gave way to a constitutional government run by Parliament. For nearly 200 years Britain expanded into a global empire, and was the undisputed superpower of the world. However at the turn of the twentieth century they began to lose some of their power to the rising economies of Germany and the United States. The aftermath of WWI, had a devastating affect on the British empire, and eventually gave way to it's dissolution. This lead to it's modern transition into a Commonwealth of Nations.
During the 1930s as the British Empire continued to dissolve, however they still played a major role against the rising threats of Nazi Germany. WWII has often been described as one of history's darkest periods, and it was the country of Britain who courageously faced the enemy head on from start to finish. This was thanks to their steadfast leader, Prime Minister Winston Churchill. He refused to surrender to Nazi Germany, and lead both Britain and all of Europe to stand strong in this terrible period. With the alliance of the United States, Britain was able to finally defeat Adolf Hitler, and bring a close to the most deadly war in history.
By the end of WWII, Britain could no longer match the economic superpowers of Russia and the United States. However they quickly sided with the United States during the Cold War, and established a special relationship. In 1979 Britain gave way to it's first female prime minister, Margaret Thatcher. She was a stern conservative, a strong ally of Ronald Reagan, and gained popularity for defeating the Argentine invasions during the Falkland Wars. To this day the United Kingdom has played a significant role in influencing global politics.
British Folklore and Literature
Over the years as I've studied many cultures, I've discovered that it is in their folklore and literature where their traditions and customs are derived from. In this case it was a greater understanding of William Shakespeare that finally got me to study and write about English culture. Since I've already written about Shakespeare, (see Shakespeare Tribute) I've decided to focus here on his earlier literary influences.
One of England's most famous and oldest folk legends is the tale of King Arthur. It has been extended into numerous versions, however it's most original format can be dated back to Geoffrey of Monmouth's "History of Regum Brittaniae" of the 1100s. The general synopsis of the tale is about an Anglo Saxon king, Arthur, who is guided by a wizard named Merlin. With his sword Excalibur and his knights of the round table, he is able to defeat the wicked Mordred and establish a kingdom of Camelot. Other variations of the story introduce his wife Guinevere having a romantic affair with the knight Lancelot as a well a quest for the Holy Grail. One of the most notable adaptations of this folktale is Alfred Lord Tennyson's Idylls of the King. This was a 12 part narrative poem published from 1859 to 1885.
Another very popular English folktale was the legend of Robin Hood (of which I've already studied , see Folklore Robin Hood). The general synopsis is an outlaw who stole from the rich to give to the poor. He was a an enemy of the monarchy, most notably King John I, yet a hero of the people. It's earliest reference came about in the mid 1200s and soon found it's way embedded in popular folklore.
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In the late 1300s, Geoffrey Chaucer published many notable works such as The Book of Duchess, the House of Fame, Legend of Good Woman, Troilus and Criseyde, and most famously for his Canterbury Tales. The Canterbury Tales was a series of poetic verses and tales from pilgrims traveling to the Canterbury Cathedral. This became
Chaucer's magnum opus, which broke away from Latin text and introduced English text. For this reason he is often considered the father of English literature, and a major influence to William Shakespeare.
Another very significant English author was John Milton who thrived during the brief Commonwealth Era of 1650s. In 1667 he published his most famous work, Paradise Lost, which was an Epic Poem. The poem metaphorically depicts the opening biblical passages of the Fall of Mankind, in which Adam and Eve fail temptation from Satan and are expelled from the Garden of Eden. Milton's mythological adaptation served as a justification of Christian theology.
Notable English folktales;
I spent several weeks studying the British Monarchy, (see English Monarchy) so I won't get too much into it in this section. However I do want to briefly highlight it's most modern history, which has become an age of British decolonization. The transition from absolute monarchy to constitutional monarchy began in the early 1700s, which gave way to a constitutional government run by Parliament. For nearly 200 years Britain expanded into a global empire, and was the undisputed superpower of the world. However at the turn of the twentieth century they began to lose some of their power to the rising economies of Germany and the United States. The aftermath of WWI, had a devastating affect on the British empire, and eventually gave way to it's dissolution. This lead to it's modern transition into a Commonwealth of Nations.
By the end of WWII, Britain could no longer match the economic superpowers of Russia and the United States. However they quickly sided with the United States during the Cold War, and established a special relationship. In 1979 Britain gave way to it's first female prime minister, Margaret Thatcher. She was a stern conservative, a strong ally of Ronald Reagan, and gained popularity for defeating the Argentine invasions during the Falkland Wars. To this day the United Kingdom has played a significant role in influencing global politics.
British Folklore and Literature
Over the years as I've studied many cultures, I've discovered that it is in their folklore and literature where their traditions and customs are derived from. In this case it was a greater understanding of William Shakespeare that finally got me to study and write about English culture. Since I've already written about Shakespeare, (see Shakespeare Tribute) I've decided to focus here on his earlier literary influences.One of England's most famous and oldest folk legends is the tale of King Arthur. It has been extended into numerous versions, however it's most original format can be dated back to Geoffrey of Monmouth's "History of Regum Brittaniae" of the 1100s. The general synopsis of the tale is about an Anglo Saxon king, Arthur, who is guided by a wizard named Merlin. With his sword Excalibur and his knights of the round table, he is able to defeat the wicked Mordred and establish a kingdom of Camelot. Other variations of the story introduce his wife Guinevere having a romantic affair with the knight Lancelot as a well a quest for the Holy Grail. One of the most notable adaptations of this folktale is Alfred Lord Tennyson's Idylls of the King. This was a 12 part narrative poem published from 1859 to 1885.
Another very popular English folktale was the legend of Robin Hood (of which I've already studied , see Folklore Robin Hood). The general synopsis is an outlaw who stole from the rich to give to the poor. He was a an enemy of the monarchy, most notably King John I, yet a hero of the people. It's earliest reference came about in the mid 1200s and soon found it's way embedded in popular folklore.
In the late 1300s, Geoffrey Chaucer published many notable works such as The Book of Duchess, the House of Fame, Legend of Good Woman, Troilus and Criseyde, and most famously for his Canterbury Tales. The Canterbury Tales was a series of poetic verses and tales from pilgrims traveling to the Canterbury Cathedral. This became Chaucer's magnum opus, which broke away from Latin text and introduced English text. For this reason he is often considered the father of English literature, and a major influence to William Shakespeare.
Another very significant English author was John Milton who thrived during the brief Commonwealth Era of 1650s. In 1667 he published his most famous work, Paradise Lost, which was an Epic Poem. The poem metaphorically depicts the opening biblical passages of the Fall of Mankind, in which Adam and Eve fail temptation from Satan and are expelled from the Garden of Eden. Milton's mythological adaptation served as a justification of Christian theology.
Notable English folktales;
- King Arthur
- Robin Hood
- Jack and the Beanstalk
- Goldilocks and the Three Bears
- Tom Thumb
- Lady Godiva
- George Orwell (1984, Animal Farm)
- C.S. Lewis (Chronicles of Narnia)
- Robert Louis Stevenson (Treasure Island, Dr. Jeykell and Hyde)
- H.G. Wells (Time Machine, War of the Worlds)
- D.H. Lawrence
- Charles Dickens (Oliver Twist, A Christmas Carol, A Tale of Two Cities, Great Expectations)
- Lewis Carroll (Alice in Wonderland)
- J.R.R Tolkien (The Hobbit, Lord of the Rings)
- Virginia Woolf
- Ian Flemming
- Arthur Conan Doyle (Sherlock Holmes)
- J.M. Barrie (Peter Pan)
- J.K Rowling (Harry Potter)
British Art
Some other notable British artists include William Blake, Thomas Gainsborough, John Constable, John Everett Millais, Francis Bacon, and John William Waterhouse (another one of my favorites) .
British Science
Britain has been very influential in the fields of science and lead the way during the Scientific Revolution of the 1600s. One of it's major contributions came from Sir Isaac Newton, who published groundbreaking laws of motion and gravity in his publication of the Principia in 1687. This discovery paved the way for modern physics and brought about advancements in industry and astronomy. (I made a study on this several years ago, (see Study of Modern Physics).
Another very influential British scientist was Charles Darwin, who made major contributions to the fields of biological theory. In 1859 he published a groundbreaking study called the Origin of Species, which introduced an new theory of evolution. Essentially this theory challenged religious teachings, in that human life had evolved from amoeba cells and primates. Today this theory is generally accepted as fact, and despite some opposition from ultra conservative Creationists, there is no reason this discovery cannot be linked with religious teachings. (This is another very intriguing topic I intend to write about some day)
Britain has been very influential in the fields of science and lead the way during the Scientific Revolution of the 1600s. One of it's major contributions came from Sir Isaac Newton, who published groundbreaking laws of motion and gravity in his publication of the Principia in 1687. This discovery paved the way for modern physics and brought about advancements in industry and astronomy. (I made a study on this several years ago, (see Study of Modern Physics).
Another very influential British scientist was Charles Darwin, who made major contributions to the fields of biological theory. In 1859 he published a groundbreaking study called the Origin of Species, which introduced an new theory of evolution. Essentially this theory challenged religious teachings, in that human life had evolved from amoeba cells and primates. Today this theory is generally accepted as fact, and despite some opposition from ultra conservative Creationists, there is no reason this discovery cannot be linked with religious teachings. (This is another very intriguing topic I intend to write about some day)
British Architecture
Following the Great Fire of 1666, much of London had to be rebuilt. Britain thus entered a new stage of architecture during it's Baroque era which lasted thru the 1800s. Many masterful buildings were designed using a new style of Georgian and Victorian architecture. This was a return to classical such as Buckingham Palace, the House of Parliament, St. Paul's Cathedral, and the Tower Bridge of London. In the 1900s they embarked on modernist architecture to cater to the booming business and technological markets of it's time. Some examples of these modern buildings include Lloyd's Building and Swiss Re Building (also known as the The Gherkin).
British Music
The first thing that comes to mind when I think of British music is of course my favorite band of all time, the Beatles. Their rebellious rock and roll style defined the 1960s counterculture era and made way for a British invasion of new music. Many British bands thrived during this time and have made a significant impact on musical culture such as The Rolling Stones, The Who, Led Zeppelin, and Pink Floyd (some of my favorites). Even after the 1960s, Great Britain continued to lead the way with great popular musicians such as Eric Clapton, Elton John, David Bowie, Sex Pistols, The Clash, Van Morrison, Spice Girls, Adele, and another of my favorites Coldplay.However even before the 1960s, when Britain became a thriving place for popular music, they still had a long, rich, and patriotic musical tradition. Folk songs and nursery rhymes date back to the 1500s, with popular tunes such as "London Bridge" and "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star". The national anthem, "God Save the Queen" is a homage to their longstanding monarchy and proud tradition. In the 1900s, composers such as Edward Elgar and Benjamin Brittain helped bring an identity to British classical music.
British Sports
I've already written numerous times about my appreciation for English soccer (see The English Football League, Barclays Premier League, The FA Cup, 2014 EPL clubs) so I won't spend too much time on that sport here. I will mention however that their fans are some of the most passionate in the world. Their national team has had some good runs in the World Cup, including a championship in 1966 when they hosted the tournament. Also worth mentioning is that the rules of association futbol were first drafted in the UK in 1863, and they have some of the oldest clubs in the world.
Britain serves as host to many notable national tournaments in these sports including the Wimbledon Tennis Championships and the British Golf Open Championships. They also played an important role in formatting the modern day Olympic games, and have hosted in 1908, 1948, and 2012.
British Cuisine
When I think of British food, the first thing that comes to mind is a spot of tea and some crumpets (English version of pancakes). Tea is the most popular drink in the United Kingdom, and is often drank with breakfast, lunch, afternoon snack, and dinner. Baking is also a defining feature of British cuisine, as they have many forms of cakes, pies, and pastries.
Some of it's most popular dishes include the Sunday Roast (roasted beef, mashed potatoes, and biscuits), fish and chips, and various forms of meat pies. Cheddar cheese is also popular in meals since it originated from the English town of Cheddar, Somerset. One other very popular British custom are their public houses and pubs where many forms of beer are served.
When I think of British food, the first thing that comes to mind is a spot of tea and some crumpets (English version of pancakes). Tea is the most popular drink in the United Kingdom, and is often drank with breakfast, lunch, afternoon snack, and dinner. Baking is also a defining feature of British cuisine, as they have many forms of cakes, pies, and pastries.Some of it's most popular dishes include the Sunday Roast (roasted beef, mashed potatoes, and biscuits), fish and chips, and various forms of meat pies. Cheddar cheese is also popular in meals since it originated from the English town of Cheddar, Somerset. One other very popular British custom are their public houses and pubs where many forms of beer are served.
British Movies
There have been so many good movies about British history and culture, perhaps part of the reason I'm so fascinated by their culture. Some notable names include Charlie Chaplin, Alfred Hitchcock, David Lean, Richard Burton, Vivien Leigh, Peter O'Toole, Alec Guiness, Julie Andrews, Michael Caine, Elizabeth Taylor, Cary Grant, Laurence Olivier, Ridley Scott, Maggie Smith, Emma Thompson, Ian McKellen, Julie Christie, Judi Dench, Albert Finney, Kate Winslet, Daniel Day Lewis and many many more. Here is a list of some films that embody British culture.
There have been so many good movies about British history and culture, perhaps part of the reason I'm so fascinated by their culture. Some notable names include Charlie Chaplin, Alfred Hitchcock, David Lean, Richard Burton, Vivien Leigh, Peter O'Toole, Alec Guiness, Julie Andrews, Michael Caine, Elizabeth Taylor, Cary Grant, Laurence Olivier, Ridley Scott, Maggie Smith, Emma Thompson, Ian McKellen, Julie Christie, Judi Dench, Albert Finney, Kate Winslet, Daniel Day Lewis and many many more. Here is a list of some films that embody British culture.
- Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)
- Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
- Zulu (1964)
- My Fair Lady (1964)
- Sound of Music (1965)
- Oliver (1968)
- James Bond film series (1960s-present)
- A Clockwork Orange (1970)
- The English Patient (1996)
- Shakespeare in Love (1998) (see Movie Masterpiece)
- Elizabeth (1998)
- Harry Potter series (2001-2011)
- Love Actually (2003)
- The Queen (2006)
- Children of Men (2006)
- The King's Speech (2010)
- The Theory of Everything (2014)
- The Imitation Game (2014)
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