Religion and Ethics Forum
General Category => Literature, Music, Art & Entertainment => Topic started by: Nearly Sane on September 16, 2021, 04:35:27 PM
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What fresh idiocy is this!!!
https://inews.co.uk/news/john-whittingdale-public-sector-broadcasters-british-only-fools-fleabag-1201634
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Thankfully this Whittingdale clown has just been sacked: whether his replacement is any less of a clown remains to be seen.
The problem with describing programmes as 'British' undermines that some of these are very obviously reflective of where the programme is set, and that is often a core element that 'makes' the programme: Derry Girls is mentioned in the article and any sane person would identify it as specifically portraying Northern Ireland, just as Still Game so obviously portrays Glasgow.
Apparently Whittingdale cited the 'Carry On' films as being an example of 'Britishness' - if that is the best 'Britain' can do then all hope is lost: clearly 'Britishness' is another Tory fantasy (and some of us would like to be rid of it).
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The problem with describing programmes as 'British' undermines that some of these are very obviously reflective of where the programme is set, and that is often a core element that 'makes' the programme: Derry Girls is mentioned in the article and any sane person would identify it as specifically portraying Northern Ireland, just as Still Game so obviously portrays Glasgow.
Last I looked, Glasgow was British and Derry, whilst technically not in Great Britain, is in the UK.
Apparently Whittingdale cited the 'Carry On' films as being an example of 'Britishness' - if that is the best 'Britain' can do then all hope is lost: clearly 'Britishness' is another Tory fantasy (and some of us would like to be rid of it).
You are British. You can't get rid of your Britishness.
The irony is that all the examples that he quoted were simply TV and film companies trying to make good TV and films without worrying about how British they were. His view of Britishness is a fiction created by writers and actors. They have defined Britishness. British production companies will continue to make British output because what they produce will define what we think of as British.
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The problem with describing programmes as 'British' undermines that some of these are very obviously reflective of where the programme is set, and that is often a core element that 'makes' the programme: Derry Girls is mentioned in the article and any sane person would identify it as specifically portraying Northern Ireland, just as Still Game so obviously portrays Glasgow.
I'm not entirely sure I'm understanding the issue you have with this.
The mentioning of Carry On's isn't helpful, being the outdated institution it is, but if Derry Girls is reflective of Northern Ireland, then Eastenders is reflective of London. Does that make one or other of these programmes more or less British? I don't think it does.
I also think he has a valid point about the effect the streaming giants have on TV, whilst in some cases they do reflect a cultures identity, so "The Crown" (whether you like it or not) is British in my eyes. "Sex Education" less so, as there is a deliberate attempt to muddy the cultural id of it's setting. Naturally, a lot of the programmes on the streaming services are designed to appeal to as wide a global audience as possible. That would, I think, mean that they are unlikely to take a punt on anything like Fleabag.
It may be that you are objecting to the idea of Britishness, which is a valid viewpoint.
But In terms of safeguarding the specific unique nature of TV in our disunited kingdom I don't have a particular beef with his comments, whether this bunch of incompetents are capable or really willing to do that is another question entirely.
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But In terms of safeguarding the specific unique nature of TV in our disunited kingdom I don't have a particular beef with his comments, whether this bunch of incompetents are capable or really willing to do that is another question entirely.
I think the best way to safeguard the specific unique nature of British TV is to protect the BBC from the depredations of his own government.
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Newsthump get straight to the point.
https://newsthump.com/2021/09/17/crimewatch-to-return-to-our-tv-screens-but-will-be-renamed-the-great-british-crimewatch/
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The issue I have with this is I can't see it's a problem. I'm struggling to think of any show made for mainstream British TV which isn't pretty obviously British.
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The issue I have with this is I can't see it's a problem. I'm struggling to think of any show made for mainstream British TV which isn't pretty obviously British.
'Allo 'allo was pretty obviously French.
The actors couldn't even speak proper British!
;D
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'Allo 'allo was pretty obviously French.
The actors couldn't even speak proper British!
;D
thees ees whaaat yu spekee
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Mr Crabtree was my French teacher at school. I failed French O Level.
'Allo 'Allo was British tv at its best.