Americans don’t get sarcasm, the British love queues and the French like cheese. Stereotypes are often inaccurate, but can also be useful way of finding a common identity. In his sketch show comedian Erich McElroy draws on these stereotypes to describe his long-running struggle between being American and being British, writes Georgia Hussey.
After the performance of the National Theatre of Scotland’s Glasgow Girls, the audience jumped to their feet and roared their approval and wouldn’t stop. The cast looked slightly stunned by the audience’s reaction, but it was a reflection of a truly exciting musical play, writes Rachael Jolley.
What then can we learn about the possibilities of sport, and other areas of common interest, to be a positive force for inclusion and integration? This was the central question at British Future’s Beyond Wembley: What can bring Bradford together? debate held on 26th February at the Carlisle Business Centre in Bradford.
"Bradford needs more than just one cup final. It needs more winners. People are desperate; people want change.” These words, articulated by one member of the audience at British Future’s Beyond Wembley: What can bring Bradford together? event, struck a chord with many.
There are many things people think of when they hear the name Wales. Mountains, singing, sheep, leeks, harps and, of course, rugby. I myself am from Wales and I definitely see rugby as somehow particularly Welsh. But is this merely a stereotypical view of this little country or are there some intrinsic elements of national pride and identity locked inside the sport? writes Bryn Lewis.
Trendsetters from around the globe descended on Britain’s capital at the end of last week for the bi-annual London Fashion Week, which saw a blend of long-established designers showcasing their latest sartorial output next to lesser-known up-and-coming talent. But London Fashion Week symbolises far more than perfect pouts and seams sashaying down the runway. As representative of the British fashion industry on the whole, it was and is incredibly important to the country, writes Jemimah Steinfeld.
“Foods from all over the world have become so British and so ingrained in British cuisine that we often forget where these foods have actually come from,” says Amarjeet Singh from Refugee Action, the national charity working with refugees and asylum seekers, when asked about what she regards as a true British dish.
Freedom and opportunity are what Larry Rach really values when talking about Britain. "Being British affords us a whole different raft of opportunities," says Larry in relation to him and his family, listing good education and overall stability for his children as some of these.
Freedom is what Larry Rach most values when talking about Britain. "Being British affords us a whole different raft of opportunities," says Larry, listing good education and overall stability for his children as some of these opportunities.
"Sport is one of the ways in which I think you can most see our identity," says Jonny Cope from Croydon when asked about what it means to be British. Even when England is losing in a major football tournament, he still enjoys seeing the flags on the cars, seeing big TV screens airing the match across the country and chatting about the game over a pint with strangers.
As part of our British Histories series, British Future asked actor Harman Singh and political assistant Mario Creatura what it means to be British and which forces have influenced their identities.
Fish and chips, punk, bad weather and sarcasm are just a few things that come to mind when Harman Singh is questioned about what it means to be British. But does Harman himself feel British? It's complicated explains the 21-year-old native of Watford.
Croydon fan Mario Creatura has Italian parents and says he has his hometown of Croydon and his family to thank for his achievements. "The value that my Italian heritage and my community in Croydon have given me, and the education that the British system provided has enabled me to now work in the mother of all democracies."
An exhibition at the National Maritime Museum on the East India Company is just as much about our past as it is our present, and just as much about Britain as about Asia. After all, things that we regard as quintessentially British were not always, like the curry and the cup of tea, writes Jemimah Steinfeld.
Does being Jewish mean I should take offence towards the alleged antisemitism in Gerald Scarfe’s recent cartoon, which features Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu paving a wall with the blood and limbs of Palestinians? Not necessarily, writes Jemimah Steinfeld.
What are the sources of tension in Britain today and how should they be addressed? These were the central questions at British Future's Bittersweet Britain: What unites & what divides us debate, held on 22nd January on London’s HMS Belfast to mark British Future’s first birthday and the launch of its State of the Nation 2013 report.
The themes of community and trust dominated the Bittersweet Britain: What unites & what divides us debate, held on 22nd January on London's HMS Belfast to mark British Future’s first birthday, writes Richard Miranda.
To celebrate the first birthday of British Future and the launch of our 2013 State of the Nation poll, we hosted Bittersweet Britain: What unites & what divides us? on Tuesday 22nd January. Check out photos from the event here.
The referendum on Scottish independence will be a major political event in the UK in 2014. Yet the relationships and bonds between people from different parts of the UK are unlikely to be hugely affected, writes Mark Diffley.
We should not dismiss immigration concern at a national level, even if people's experience of immigration at a local level is limited, explains British Future's Sunder Katwala in the new report State of the Nation: Where is bittersweet Britain heading?
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