upsticks: (Back Alley English)
upsticks ([personal profile] upsticks) wrote2008-05-09 03:40 pm

England in the 21st Century

England, famous across the world as the country of Shakespeare, royalty, fair play and manners, is a nation of "overweight, sex-and-celebrity-obsessed TV addicts", according to a new tourist guide.

I'm not sure what to make of this article on England in the 21st Century.


I mean, England isn't the dry stone walls and rolling hills and apple-country it seems to suggest that it is. It isn't the magical fairytale country, where people speak slowly and clearly, and all with the same accent - the perfect RP.

We don't wear bonnets, and complain about decency.

I'm not sure we even feel so strongly about Royalty anymore. I for one, feel particularly indifferent to it (right now, at least).


But saying we are a nation of "overweight sex-and-celebrity-obsessed TV addicts"?

You forgot the Chavs.



Tell me, flist, anyone - from England or not - do you think England is overweight/sex-obsessed/celebrity-obsessed/tv-obsessed?

[identity profile] purpleface.livejournal.com 2008-05-09 08:09 pm (UTC)(link)
Mostly, yes.

[identity profile] purpleface.livejournal.com 2008-05-09 08:15 pm (UTC)(link)
Hahha it's true though. When you go out, you know that you're going to get asked by someone to dance or whatever, and they're gonna be after sex. It happens nearly all the time.

We're constantly talking about celebrities in the media. Magazines, newspapers - they thrive off it. It's a big business. I think us English are basically just trying to get lots of money. That's what it is. And the celebrities are the source of it. It's just the way our culture is at the moment.
ext_10830: Jewellrey (Desperate times)

[identity profile] glitterfairy25.livejournal.com 2008-05-09 11:12 pm (UTC)(link)
It is totally true. People have asked me to dance, told me they have a girlfriend, and then tried to feel me up. I hate it, and I've kinda lost my faith in humanity because of it.

I think it's just that celebrity = religion. Since we're not so big on religion any more, celebrity has that edge that we want.

that is an interesting point though: we crave money so we produce these celebrities that will achieve it. huh, interesting thought. A whole new spin on it, and one that sounds quite pessimistic :S thanks :)

There's a lot of food for thought there...