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Wenglish
This short documentary looks at the similarities/differences between England and Wales whilst looking at my national identity. Only to discover I don't have one as I was brought up on the border. Neither country seems willing to accept responsibility for me. I'm a bit like the lone ranger...but with friends...and not much ranging. This short documentary looks at the similarities/differences between England and Wales whilst looking at my national identity. Only to... more
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Aso Salm - British citizen
Having fled Iraq six years ago, Aso Salm is now a British citizen. In this short film Aso reflects on how it felt to get his first ever passport and his new life in Plymouth. Having fled Iraq six years ago, Aso Salm is now a British citizen. In this short film Aso reflects on how it felt to get his first eve... more
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Telephone box art upsets neighbours, local council
When artist Barry Robinson saved three traditional red phone boxes from the scrap heap he was praised by his neighbours. That is, until he decided to mount them on a 20ft high girder in their rural village.
Mr Robinson created the unusual "work of art" in a field opposite his home in Hurley, Warwickshire, by bolting the three boxes onto an metal girder, which has been painted green and fashioned to look like a tree. The 65-year-old describes the eye-catching structure, which was built without planning permission, as a celebration of Britishness. When artist Barry Robinson saved three traditional red phone boxes from the scrap heap he was praised by his neighbours. That is, unti... more -
Asian Other (Lower Quality)
Growing up in a multi-cultural city can play havoc with a person's sense of self. As a Londoner of Asian descent, how do you go about defining yourself when you are confronted with conflicting and contrasting cultures and attitudes every day of your life? Is it the way other people perceive you or through a surrogate source of belonging such as religion, or is there even a need for you to be designated a tag in the first place?
Directed/Written/Edited
and Presented
Guy Gunaratne
Shot
Heidi Lindvall
Music
Leon Owen Growing up in a multi-cultural city can play havoc with a person's sense of self. As a Londoner of Asian descent, how do you go a... more -
Is Britishness in the brain?
A specialist market research company has carried out an experiment which aims to go beyond what people say they like or dislike, and reveal what they really think.
With the volunteers happily strapped into their multi-coloured braincaps, they were shown a selection of images of England or Britain, which mixed "traditional patriotic images and music with news footage of everything from the royal family to cups of tea; from multicultural street scenes to far-right protesters; sporting triumphs to terrorist attacks."
As the participants watched the footage, a researcher monitored a graph which showed their emotional responses by spiking up and down.
The experiment showed some interesting results about people's emotional responses and their thoughts that were more deeply rooted in the brain. For example, after being shown a clip with 'stirring music and regal scenes of the Queen and her family' none of the group spoke positively about Britain's monarchy, with some saying how much they disliked it. But when their emotional responses were correlated to their brain scans, it revealed more mixed findings.
"Their brain scans, however, revealed more mixed findings. The Queen got a warmer reaction if she was smiling and in a more informal setting; reaction to Charles and Camilla was cool. But the winners were Princes William and Harry, with a scene showing Harry serving in Afghanistan producing a particularly positive response."
The article continues with the experiment's findings, looking specifically at how the participants reacted to a 'multicutural Britain' and scenes of tragedy. A specialist market research company has carried out an experiment which aims to go beyond what people say they like or dislike, and r... more -
Britain in danger of 'ethnic cold war'
The race watchdog chief Trevor Phillips has warned that the UK is in danger of a 'cold war' between ethnic communities.
He went onto to say that now was the time to hold a debate on immigration without people being accused of racism. In response to the 'cold war' claims, Immigration Minister Liam Byrne yesterday suggested that "the biggest changes for 45 years, including a points system, a single border force and reintroduction of a system to count people in and out," all needed to be introduced.
Phillips explained that the country has seen 'the emergence of a kind of cold war in some areas where very separate communities exist side by side with poor communication across racial or religious lines."
He believes that the country's uncontrolled immigration has encouraged racism. The race watchdog chief Trevor Phillips has warned that the UK is in danger of a 'cold war' between ethnic communities. ... more -
A World in Motion
Worlds in Motion seeks to represent the efforts of eight award winning social entrepreneurs from the UK. We examine the projects they are involved in, their inspiration &aims, hopes for the future.
A film about social entrepreneurs and the worlds they move in the work they do! This is the pilot to a bigger project go see and tell it as it is: http://www.channel4.com/fourdocs/film/film-detail.jsp?i... Worlds in Motion seeks to represent the efforts of eight award winning social entrepreneurs from the UK. We examine the projects they ... more -
Betrayal of the Gurkhas: Soldiers denied the right to live here hand medals back
Gurkha veterans marched on Parliament yesterday and many handed back medals in protest at the treatment of Gurkha veterans by the government. Gurkha's who retired before 1997 get substantially smaller pensions than British soldiers and many are barred from settling in the UK .
Gordon Brown's has made a big deal about making immigrants and asylum seekers pledge allegiance to Britain. These Gurkha veterans have been prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice and they don't qualify to live in the country? Gurkha veterans marched on Parliament yesterday and many handed back medals in protest at the treatment of Gurkha veterans by the gove... more -
Britishness
Is Britishness all about ASBO’s, prejudice, cynicism and a patriotic vacuum? Or are we still eccentric world-beaters with a unique self-belief & attitude? Are we proud to be British?
This is a frank look at modern Britain and what it means to be a young person living here. The promo campaign starts airing on Current from March 8th, and the stunt itself will run from March 21st to the 24th.
Current TV: Sky 193 & Virgin 155 Is Britishness all about ASBO’s, prejudice, cynicism and a patriotic vacuum? Or are we still eccentric world-beaters with a unique sel... more -
Im Korean in the UK
Mimi arrived in the UK 2 years ago to study. In this pod she talks about the difficulties she's faced in adapting to British culture. Mimi arrived in the UK 2 years ago to study. In this pod she talks about the difficulties she's faced in adapting to British cult... more
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Scott's Scots Brew
Scott Logan visits Black Isle Brewery in the Scottish Highlands, where he dispels the notion that "organics" are about cranky, no-knickered teepee dwellers living off brown rice and lentils.
Produced By: Evan B. Stone & Kristen Schultz Scott Logan visits Black Isle Brewery in the Scottish Highlands, where he dispels the notion that "organics" are about crank... more -
Petty Cash
Join Chris in a three minute exposition on the British penny, in all its worthless glory. Where did it come from? Why are we still keeping it? Should we just ditch it all together? The answers may amuse you. Join Chris in a three minute exposition on the British penny, in all its worthless glory. Where did it come from? Why are we still kee... more
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Rapper Akala Speaks
Part of Black History Month, this pod explores rapper, Akala's views on racial identity in the United Kingdom.
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Stop And Search Me
Seyi Rhodes, a young black filmmaker, questions the common assertion that the police are racist by living the life of a group of young black men who say they are constantly being stopped by the police despite having done nothing wrong. Seyi Rhodes, a young black filmmaker, questions the common assertion that the police are racist by living the life of a group of young... more
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Cheese Chasers
Cheeses are rolled down a hill at a traditional cheese rolling festival in Gloucestershire. Hundreds of people run, fall and roll after them, and the winner is the person who catches a cheese before it reaches the bottom. Cheeses are rolled down a hill at a traditional cheese rolling festival in Gloucestershire. Hundreds of people run, fall and roll afte... more
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Oath of allegiance plan for pupils
Schoolchildren should swear oaths of allegiance in a bid to tackle a "diminution in national pride", former Attorney General Lord Goldsmith has said.
The peer insisted such measures were needed because Britain had become a more "divided country" with less sense of "belonging" over recent years. Not enough was currently being done in schools to encourage young people to take a constructive role in society, he said.
The recommendation for expanding citizenship ceremonies features in a wide-ranging review carried out by Lord Goldsmith for Prime Minister Gordon Brown. "I have looked with the aid of research at what the situation is," Lord Goldsmith told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme.
"Certainly there is not a crisis of national identity - I'm sure we would all see it if there were. But certainly the research does tend to show that there has been a diminution in national pride in the sense of belonging and it is a particularly generational thing.
The citizenship ceremonies, which is one of the many things that I have suggested, are a way of marking that passage from being a student of citizenship to being a citizen in practice." Schoolchildren should swear oaths of allegiance in a bid to tackle a "diminution in national pride", former Attorney General... more -
Humour us America, we love to be grumpy
According to a former New York Times journalist who spent a year travelling the world in search of the planet's happy places, he didn't find any in the UK.
Some of our good old sense of humour has always been lost in translation across the pond but according to his research, Eric Weiner thinks we've completely lost our sense of humour and that now all we feel is pity: “I feel sorry for the Brits; they don’t merely enjoy misery, they get off on it.”
Admittedly Slough may not be the happiest place in the world, as Ricky Gervais shows in his comedy The Office, but surely saying that there is no happiness there at all is a bit of a mass generalisation?
The council's defence of the city and further critique of Britain's green and pleasant land can be found at the link. Are his thoughts on Britain been completely miserable, and enjoying it, really that true? According to a former New York Times journalist who spent a year travelling the world in search of the planet's happy places, he ... more -
What songs define 'Englishness' to you?
The Guardian have asked some of the UK's leading musicians what songs they feel define the part of the country they were born, splitting it up into Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
There's a good showing of familiar names, with everyone from 'St. Etienne' and 'The Feeling' to young whippersnappers 'The Young Knives' getting their thoughts down on why they think their choice of track defines being 'English'
There's the obligatory Sex Pistols mention and a nod to warbling warbler Kate Bush, but apart from that there's some interesting insight into a few top musicians take on being 'English.'
Sadly, the article doesn't have an area where you could congregate to jovially joust each other on why your own region's music is better than theirs... The Guardian have asked some of the UK's leading musicians what songs they feel define the part of the country they were born, sp... more
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Britishness
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Britishness
