Spin-off: American and British/Irish culture Q&A thread.

[john7994]

What about ‘The Gilded Age’?

I enjoy US tv programmes. I loved Homeland, The Plot Against America and enjoyed The Affair, Revenge, Ally McBeal, ER, Madam Secretary and of course Happy Days, The Waltons, Little House on the Prairie, Bonanza, High Chaparral, Quincy and Columbo. Recently in the U.K. we have had Jamestown, which I think of as the alternative Poldark.
And then of course all the cinema films. Hollywood very much led British perception of US life.

Foolish confession. I watched the film about the making of the documentary of The Staircase, without realising (or watching) the actual documentary!

Quincy and Columbo ... haven't thought about those shows in years! Could not get into the Waltons and Little House

 

[BadPinkTink]

Very interesting analogy. thank you.

To me it feels like The Crown is a gateway into modern British history for many Americans, and that while they knew about the British Royal family , they never knew the specific real life events or people which are featured. It feels like Americans watch The Crown and see it more as a documentary than a fictionized depiction.

Where as in UK and Ireland, people lived those events and times and have their own personal experiences of what is shown in The Crown. UK and Irish people can easily separate the fact from the fiction and know that what is in The Crown is not exactly how it really happened.

 

[john7994]

To me it feels like The Crown is a gateway into modern British history for many Americans, and that while they knew about the British Royal family , they never knew the specific real life events or people which are featured. It feels like Americans watch The Crown and see it more as a documentary than a fictionized depiction.

Where as in UK and Ireland, people lived those events and times and have their own personal experiences of what is shown in The Crown. UK and Irish people can easily separate the fact from the fiction and know that what is in The Crown is not exactly how it really happened.

Thats why I asked, and at least for me, I totally treated The Crown as a documentary. Although, for some of the moments described and others - even I had to ask - is this for real? It did provide at least some moments into events that I had not known about and allowed me to research a little further (Prince Charles and the Welsh Speech).

 

[Jangles]

(Prince Charles and the Welsh Speech).

I was discussing this recently with my children (we are Welsh so we discuss politics over supper ). Charles was student age when he went to Aberystwyth. Aberystwyth Uni at the time (hmm how to say this), was, well for duffers. William is too old (40) to send to uni to learn Welsh. Maybe, just maybe, that is why they visited Wales with George and Charlotte this weekend?

 

[john7994]

I was discussing this recently with my children (we are Welsh so we discuss politics over supper ). Charles was student age when he went to Aberystwyth. Aberystwyth Uni at the time (hmm how to say this), was, well for duffers. William is too old (40) to send to uni to learn Welsh. Maybe, just maybe, that is why they visited Wales with George and Charlotte this weekend?

One of my employees is a Welsh ex pat living in Canada (and a Liverpool fan), and we have conversations in this area all the time. He also tried to explain to me (several times) the differences between England, Britain, and the U.K. - so still working on that.

 

[Jangles]

One of my employees is a Welsh ex pat living in Canada (and a Liverpool fan), and we have conversations in this area all the time. He also tried to explain to me (several times) the differences between England, Britain, and the U.K. - so still working on that.

Surely a contradiction in terms! Welsh supporter of Liverpool FC? Given that the last Princess of Wales ‘had her problems’ , maybe Charlotte is the way forward?

How much coverage has the recent Northern Ireland elections received?

 

[john7994]

Surely a contradiction in terms! Welsh supporter of Liverpool FC? Given that the last Princess of Wales ‘had her problems’ , maybe Charlotte is the way forward?

How much coverage has the recent Northern Ireland elections received?

He is a character, but I have learned quite a bit

I am interested to see, more from curiosity, how succession and transition will work in the Monarchy going forward at least over the next 10-20 years. I think it's why I gravitate to understanding all the nuances within the U.K. - its pretty fascinating.

In terms of election coverage in Northern Ireland, and for the "news" outlets I rely on (for good or bad), I have not seen anything, but will admit, it's also something I am not looking for specifically (no offense intended). As of late, I try to limit my time on news sites these days.

 

[Jangles]

I really feel that this thread needs some Scottish and English input! Today ‘we’ face a ‘no confidence’ vote. I don’t think that the U.S. has anything similar.

 

[SirDuff]

I really feel that this thread needs some Scottish and English input! Today ‘we’ face a ‘no confidence’ vote. I don’t think that the U.S. has anything similar.

I found it interesting that BBC (I think - I may have been watching ITV) called it a "vote of confidence" rather than "no confidence". Comes out to the same, but I've always heard it called a "no confidence vote" as you just referred to it as.

 

[Buzz Rules]

Apparently we can’t view this. What is it called?

Turn was a 40 episode series created by American tv channel AMC that focused on the American Revolution culper spy ring. It’s based on true events (with some creative licensing). It has love, action, and political issues that existed during the 1770’s-1780’s. I’ll try to see if I can find a video that you can see in the UK.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turn:_Washington's_Spies

 

[Buzz Rules]

I was discussing this recently with my children (we are Welsh so we discuss politics over supper ). Charles was student age when he went to Aberystwyth. Aberystwyth Uni at the time (hmm how to say this), was, well for duffers. William is too old (40) to send to uni to learn Welsh. Maybe, just maybe, that is why they visited Wales with George and Charlotte this weekend?

Common thing in America too, except on Thanksgiving and Christmas.

 

[Buzz Rules]

I really feel that this thread needs some Scottish and English input! Today ‘we’ face a ‘no confidence’ vote. I don’t think that the U.S. has anything similar.

No we don’t.

 

[Buzz Rules]

He is a character, but I have learned quite a bit

I am interested to see, more from curiosity, how succession and transition will work in the Monarchy going forward at least over the next 10-20 years. I think it's why I gravitate to understanding all the nuances within the U.K. - its pretty fascinating.

In terms of election coverage in Northern Ireland, and for the "news" outlets I rely on (for good or bad), I have not seen anything, but will admit, it's also something I am not looking for specifically (no offense intended). As of late, I try to limit my time on news sites these days.

I think unless it something that most of America is affected by, the US news just doesn’t cover it here. Most Americans will just go to the BBC news website to see what’s happening across the pond.

 

[Buzz Rules]

‘Our’ hotdogs are different aren’t they? I think they are made with different meat and the ones in Casey’s Corner are sweet tasting.

 

[Buzz Rules]

And then of course all the cinema films. Hollywood very much led British perception of US life.

Because we all sing and dance at random in High School and just act like it’s normal….

 

[Jangles]

Because we all sing and dance at random in High School and just act like it’s normal….

My daughter spent many years as a Camp America leader/counsellor (Camp Lindenmere). It seemed to involve a great deal of spontaneous singing and dancing. I don’t think that it was the Welsh influence?

 

[BadPinkTink]

One thing to note about American pre made or packaged food items in Europe. Anything sold in The EU must adhere to European FDA regulations. You can find various American candy and chocolate etc in supermarkets and there are specialty American import shops where you can get breakfast cereals, and soda and many other things. However, American brands of Ranch Dressing are not sold. I asked a few years ago in one of the American import shops and they said they were not allowed to import it due to the ingredients. Thats why some things like Hersey chocolate can be bought in Europe but other things cant.

 

[Buzz Rules]

I don’t know whether you watched the game but as we may play the US and this is a difference in cultures thread….. did you hear the piece that Welsh supporters have made their anthem at football games?

It is relatively modern but addresses the oppression of Wales, our language and culture. It was written in response to Thatcherism, but it also has earlier historical content. It has become mainstream and it is fascinating that it has been adopted by Welsh football fans and Welsh football clubs.

I did watch the game (it was on ESPN, which is owned by Disney). We have songs that talk about our right to exist as a nation as well. In American sports however, especially soccer, political (or anything seen as political for majority of the country) chants/songs/posters are pretty much banned to decrease controversy at games. It’s actually kind of been a talking point for the last couple of years but we can’t talk about that here. As for songs that are similar, these come to mind:

 

[Buzz Rules]

My daughter spent many years as a Camp America leader/counsellor (Camp Lindenmere). It seemed to involve a great deal of spontaneous singing and dancing. I don’t think that it was the Welsh influence?

Well, you guys are known for poets and singers so…..

 

[Buzz Rules]

One thing to note about American pre made or packaged food items in Europe. Anything sold in The EU must adhere to European FDA regulations. You can find various American candy and chocolate etc in supermarkets and there are specialty American import shops where you can get breakfast cereals, and soda and many other things. However, American brands of Ranch Dressing are not sold. I asked a few years ago in one of the American import shops and they said they were not allowed to import it due to the ingredients. Thats why some things like Hersey chocolate can be bought in Europe but other things cant.

Are organic foods cheaper in Europe than the USA?