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Great Britain: Row over national icons (Culture mavens fight over what symbolizes Englishness)
The Sun (U.K.) ^
| January 8, 2006
| CAROLINE IGGULDEN
Posted on 01/09/2006 1:53:36 AM PST by Stoat
Row over national icons |
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Icons ... Jordan Picture: REX |
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By CAROLINE IGGULDEN A LIST of 12 icons marking classic symbols of Englishness was revealed yesterday and sparked a storm of criticism. The line-up compiled by art experts and academics includes a cup of tea, Punch and Judy and Stonehenge. The dozen will be unveiled today by culture minister David Lammy as part of the Icons Online project.
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Here here ... for beer |
The public will then be asked to nominate and vote for additional icons. The most popular will be added to the list every three months. But the first lot which also includes the Routemaster bus, the FA Cup and Holbeins portrait of Henry VIII was yesterday branded quaint and banal by historian David Starkey. He said: It seems like a desperate attempt to invent something thats not there.
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Indian ... Tea |
Unlike Scotland, Wales and Ireland, whose nationalism is based on their culture, Englands is not.
Historically, English nationalism has more to do with being best and first. Roger Scruton, author of England: An Elegy, said: Henry VIII was more Welsh than English. Holbein was born in Germany. Tea? That came from India. Weve listed our own icons, including Jordans boobs, chicken tikka masala, 12 pints of lager on a Saturday night and the Burberry cap, above right.
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TOPICS: Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events; United Kingdom
KEYWORDS: britain; culture; culturewars; england; englishness; greatbritain; icons; uk; unitedkingdom
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A partial, hurriedly-assembled and sure-to-be-edited StoatList of American Icons, in no particular order
Raquel Welch
The V-8 Engine
Ronald Reagan
The Miniskirt
The M-16 Rifle
Our Military, may God Bless them all
1
posted on
01/09/2006 1:53:40 AM PST
by
Stoat
To: Stoat
To: FostersExport
Don't you think that it symbolizes American freedom, though?
As they say in the article, tea is from India but in many people's view it's come to symbolize Englishness
3
posted on
01/09/2006 2:06:36 AM PST
by
Stoat
(Rice / Coulter 2008: Smart Ladies for a Strong America)
To: Stoat
Glad I'm not the only insomniac...
the Jeep CJ
the Cheeseburger
The cowboy...and John Wayne
Baseball
4
posted on
01/09/2006 2:11:41 AM PST
by
AlaninSA
(It's one nation under God -- brought to you by the Knights of Columbus)
To: Stoat
for the UK political icon I would think the INGSOC or big brother posters from the movie based on 1984 would be appropriate. Or maybe that london bus poster a couple of years 'secure beneath the watchful eyes.'
To: AlaninSA
Great list!
Cheerleaders!
6
posted on
01/09/2006 2:19:55 AM PST
by
Stoat
(Rice / Coulter 2008: Smart Ladies for a Strong America)
To: Stoat
Oh it's probably just because I'm English, my instant reaction was "that's English".
To: Stoat
Oh it's probably just because I'm English, my instant reaction was "that's English".
To: WoofDog123
"or big brother posters from the movie based on 1984 would be appropriate"
9
posted on
01/09/2006 2:24:28 AM PST
by
Stoat
(Rice / Coulter 2008: Smart Ladies for a Strong America)
To: FostersExport
Oh it's probably just because I'm English, my instant reaction was "that's English".That's okay, I understand :-)
10
posted on
01/09/2006 2:26:24 AM PST
by
Stoat
(Rice / Coulter 2008: Smart Ladies for a Strong America)
To: Stoat
And we can't forget mascots
11
posted on
01/09/2006 2:27:08 AM PST
by
AlaninSA
(It's one nation under God -- brought to you by the Knights of Columbus)
To: AlaninSA; FostersExport; All
I'm surprised that neither list in the article included cricket. Even though it's played in many other countries, wouldn't you say that most people associate it with Englishness?
How about Rugby / soccer?
12
posted on
01/09/2006 2:40:48 AM PST
by
Stoat
(Rice / Coulter 2008: Smart Ladies for a Strong America)
To: Stoat
To: Stoat
Thing about cricket is although its an obviously English sport, its nowhere near as popular as soccer. And yes soccer should probably be in the list. Well, the FA Cup is so thatll do.
To: FostersExport
You are definately correct about the mini skirt. Now I want to see Austin Powers again, just the opening segment, gosh that was so great!
Since you are English, can you explain what these items on the lists are:
The Angel of the North
The FA cup
"Jerusalem" (do they mean the song/poem?)
White Van
A spitfire's a car, no? The signifigance of some othe the other items is lost on me, but I think I know what types of things they are. Thanks in advance if you can explain. And here I thought I was such a big angophile all these years, and the above items have me stumped.
And how about Sherlock Holmes and Big Ben and....dogs?
15
posted on
01/09/2006 2:49:29 AM PST
by
jocon307
(Still mourning the loss of CBS FM)
To: WoofDog123
16
posted on
01/09/2006 2:53:26 AM PST
by
Stoat
(Rice / Coulter 2008: Smart Ladies for a Strong America)
To: FostersExport
Thing about cricket is although its an obviously English sport, its nowhere near as popular as soccer. And yes soccer should probably be in the list. Well, the FA Cup is so thatll do.That makes perfect sense, thank you :-)
17
posted on
01/09/2006 2:54:37 AM PST
by
Stoat
(Rice / Coulter 2008: Smart Ladies for a Strong America)
To: Stoat
What symbolizes "Englishness". Hmmmm. A puddle of oil in the driveway?
18
posted on
01/09/2006 2:59:52 AM PST
by
Fresh Wind
(Democrats are guilty of whatever they scream the loudest about.)
To: Fresh Wind
What symbolizes "Englishness". Hmmmm. A puddle of oil in the driveway?<<< handing you a stylish, American-made flame-protection suit :-)
19
posted on
01/09/2006 3:03:12 AM PST
by
Stoat
(Rice / Coulter 2008: Smart Ladies for a Strong America)
To: Stoat
Don't need it. Paid my dues ('62 MG and '67 Austin Healey)!
20
posted on
01/09/2006 3:04:39 AM PST
by
Fresh Wind
(Democrats are guilty of whatever they scream the loudest about.)
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