Geographic Learning in the UK: Part 2

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Geography Lesson 2: Cultural diffusion 
I would never suggest spending precious time abroad watching television in lieu of getting out and actually experiencing another culture. However, I have found that it can provide some valuable insights--in small doses. Television and other mass media platforms are primary means for cultural communication in many societies, after all. Most nights that I was in the U.K, I would take a couple of hours to unwind while I drank some Earl Grey tea and watched a bit of British television.

Cultural diffusion: Entertainment

Like many Americans, I am aware that hits like The Office and American Idol were British phenomena before the concepts were exported to the United States. But I was shocked just how pervasive, and reciprocal, the trend of cultural diffusion--the spread of cultural traits including ideas, styles, religions, technologies, and languages from one society to another through migration, trade, war, or other contact--really is in the media medium. The British, for example, have their own version of the reality show The Apprentice: same title, same iconic catch-phrase ("You're fired!") different location (London) and different millionaire businessman (Sir Alan Sugar).

Another reality show called The Baron appears to adopt elements of the The Simple Life: Celebrities travel to small, relatively isolated communities where they live with and attempt to get along with locals, albeit with a distinctly British twist: Three English celebrities compete in an election to become the "baron"-- a title indicating leadership and noble status, transferable to descendants--of a "traditional" Scottish fishing village called Gardenstown. A provocative exploit into dynamics of culture, politics, class, history, etc., the unique program displays the influence of cultural diffusion--and resistance to it--in a single community struggling to find its place in the modern world. I found myself glued to the "tube" (the television, not the London "Underground" subway) late at night watching the episodes.

Gardenstown, Scotland. Image courtesy of gardenarms.co.uk

Cultural diffusion: Politics
Most of us know from our U.S. history/government/civics class in grade school that many elements of the system of government devised by our founding fathers, including the bicameral legislature, were adapted from the British model of Parliament. Today, U.S.and British political dynamics still share many similarities, with a few distinct differences.

In addition to featuring substantial coverage of the U.S. presidential primary races, I found that the BBC channel (British Broadcasting Corporation, the world's largest news gathering service) also highlighted domestic sentiment toward Gordon Brown, the new Prime Minister charged with the daunting task of taking over the reigns from ten-year PM Tony Blair. Debate emerged over the "10 pence tax band," a tax on low levels of income that Brown recently agreed to abolish. Check out this BBC video on the topic and note 1) the seemingly rowdy proceedings of British Parliament relative to the more aseptic Congressional hearings one might see on CSPAN; 2) the references to British political parties (three major parties-- Labour, Liberal Democrats, and Conservatives, also pejoratively referred to as "Tories"--compared with two major political parties in the U.S.) and 3) the London scenery in the last frame. Can you make out Big Ben?!

I'll conclude my series of U.K geography lessons with another feature on British culture: food, language, and holidays.

Sarah for My Wonderful World

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