Stereptypical Britishness - Britmovie

whitney · 08-11-2005, 04:57 PM

I am currently studying for my A-Levels in the second year, i am doing both film and media studies.

For my media studies, i have been asked to produce an assignment ,as coursework, towards my final mark!
I have chosen the title: How is "Britishness" represented in British Films?

Without getting to bogged down in what we all define to be a British film, i would be grateful if everyone could just give me thier views and ides! (totally not cheating)

For the coursework we needed to center it around 3 media texts: I have chosen the films: Bullet Boy, East is East and About A Boy, just incase that sways your decision on how Britishness is represented!

Thanks in advance!

*BaBy PiNk

sanndevil · 08-11-2005, 05:52 PM

Aha! The protocol for homework tends to be you tell us what you think, then the community will try and help you out. We don't want to do your work for you!

By the way, there are loads of text books around which answer your very quesiton. I'll try and dig out a few titles for you that I used on my Masters degree. Then you can loan them from your library.

jazzylady · 09-11-2005, 06:44 AM

Look at this webpage:

http://www.imdb.com/board/bd0000001/nest/27840191

Ruth

Rob Compton · 09-11-2005, 08:22 AM

Thanks for the great link, Ruth! That thread made me laugh out loud, and I'm still chuckling away to myself...

rgds

samkydd · 09-11-2005, 11:26 AM

Quote:

(Rob Compton @ Nov 9 2005, 08:22 AM)
Thanks for the great link, Ruth! That thread made me laugh out loud, and I'm still chuckling away to myself...
rgds
Rob

I think many are happy to help or offer opinion but have done so quite a few times in the past and it does get rather tedious. Many members could easily have qualified for A level, a university degree in film related subjects, NVQs, City & Guilds, BTEC or whatever names thay have these days, by now just on their knowledgable contributions to this forum!

Research is the key to academic success and makes the work that much more enjoyable, with all the legwork leading to a positive end result! It must be great these days to be able to use the Net for research and have the world at your fingertips. None of this sitting in a draughty library sifting through volumes of dusty work to find mere scraps and snippets of information, and gasping for a cup of coffee and a fag!

If I was a student I would come on here and pretend to be some budding bimboesque drama student or up and coming actress with a risque avatar, knowing that my helpless persona and questions would be met by an overwhelming barrage of positive response by male members and their need to show off their comprehensive knowledge to attractive and impressionable young women!

sanndevil · 09-11-2005, 01:44 PM

Hmmm. Thanks for the irony! [

As I've said before, I personally don't want this bulletin board to take the characteristics of an elitist golf club which only serves its long-standing members. I think we should be trying to encourage new members debate without browbeating them otherwise no-one will bother to say anything for fear of reprisals. And new members will quickly disappear back into the ether.

Nor do I advocate doing someone else's academic legwork for them. However, should a new member show they have applied themselves and they can posit some opinions of their own, then I would certainly be prepared to steer them in the correct direction. I have neither the time nor the inclination to write more than a few lines here and there, so there is no suggestion of me doing an essay on someone else's behalf!

I still think we should have a "Film / Media Studies" section on the board where some groundrules could be pinned by DB7 so new subscribers know what to do.

Thoughts?

penfold · 09-11-2005, 02:32 PM

Quote:

(sanndevil @ Nov 9 2005, 01:44 PM)

I still think we should have a "Film / Media Studies" section on the board where some groundrules could be pinned by DB7 so new subscribers know what to do.

Thoughts?
]

Seconded...it seems a bit unfortunate as well as unfair that we seem to be initially browbeating students looking for a bead on a subject we enjoy, rather than welcoming them in....perhaps a new section, with a note on etiquette, groundrules if you like, would solve that problem.
Good idea Sanndevil.

dylan · 09-11-2005, 04:35 PM

Quote:

(penfold @ Nov 9 2005, 02:32 PM)
Seconded...it seems a bit unfortunate as well as unfair that we seem to be initially browbeating students looking for a bead on a subject we enjoy, rather than welcoming them in....perhaps a new section, with a note on etiquette, groundrules if you like, would solve that problem.
Good idea Sanndevil.

I think that the basic ground rule should be that, rather than asking the forum for ideas, the students should post a rough draft of their essay (or initial thoughts) for members' comments. If the student can demonstrate to his/her tutor that the essay has been discussed with experts, a high mark is assured.

whitney · 09-11-2005, 05:13 PM

Don't get me wrong everyone, i have indeed spent time researching, through the internet, books, etc. I did not post my query for everyone else to do my work, but to receive idea's to enhance my assignment.
Unlike most of my peers, i would like to gain top marks knowing i had actually put hard graft into my work!!

*BaBy PiNk*

DB7 · 09-11-2005, 05:56 PM

Quote:

(*BaBy PiNk* @ Nov 9 2005, 05:13 PM)i would like to gain top marks knowing i had actually put hard graft into my work!!

*BaBy PiNk*

You could try doing a site search for topics with Britishness, British or Identity in them, it's a topic that's been covered many times before. Personally I'd have not chosen the three films you have but good luck with your assignment.

AndrewLA · 09-11-2005, 07:16 PM

I'm curious what made you choose those three films. Is the subject only "Britishness" in modern movies? Or does it encompass British movies through the decades? That would seem to be a more interesting approach, since you can discuss changes and development in film as British society evolved -- but then, you'll need at least a couple of titles from the past. (I hate to be so obvious, especially on this forum, but THE LIFE AND DEATH OF COLONEL BLIMP still speaks passionately across the years to some deep and fundamental notions of "Britishness.")

sanndevil · 09-11-2005, 07:40 PM

Yes, your choice of films has probably exponentially increased your workload! I would be tempted to reconsider if I were in your boots.

Jeffrey Richards book "Films and Britsh National Identity: From Dickens to Dad's Army" will give you an excellent overview but doesn't contain references to any of your three.

Also, if you go to the Amazon website and do a search on the word Britishness you'll find many helpful texts which your college library should be able to source through inter-library loans. Good luck!

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08-11-2005, 04:57 PM	#1
whitney has no status. Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 6 iTrader: (0)	I am currently studying for my A-Levels in the second year, i am doing both film and media studies. For my media studies, i have been asked to produce an assignment ,as coursework, towards my final mark! I have chosen the title: How is "Britishness" represented in British Films? Without getting to bogged down in what we all define to be a British film, i would be grateful if everyone could just give me thier views and ides! (totally not cheating) For the coursework we needed to center it around 3 media texts: I have chosen the films: Bullet Boy, East is East and About A Boy, just incase that sways your decision on how Britishness is represented! Thanks in advance! *BaBy PiNk

08-11-2005, 05:52 PM	#2
sanndevil has no status. Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Streatham SW2 Posts: 387 Country: iTrader: (0)	Aha! The protocol for homework tends to be you tell us what you think, then the community will try and help you out. We don't want to do your work for you! By the way, there are loads of text books around which answer your very quesiton. I'll try and dig out a few titles for you that I used on my Masters degree. Then you can loan them from your library.

09-11-2005, 06:44 AM	#3
jazzylady has no status. Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: CT, USA Posts: 134 Country: iTrader: (2)	Look at this webpage: http://www.imdb.com/board/bd0000001/nest/27840191 Ruth

09-11-2005, 08:22 AM	#4
Rob Compton is simply wonderful Senior Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Oxfordshire Posts: 1,247 Country: iTrader: (2)	Thanks for the great link, Ruth! That thread made me laugh out loud, and I'm still chuckling away to myself... rgds

09-11-2005, 01:44 PM	#6
sanndevil has no status. Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Streatham SW2 Posts: 387 Country: iTrader: (0)	Hmmm. Thanks for the irony! [ As I've said before, I personally don't want this bulletin board to take the characteristics of an elitist golf club which only serves its long-standing members. I think we should be trying to encourage new members debate without browbeating them otherwise no-one will bother to say anything for fear of reprisals. And new members will quickly disappear back into the ether. Nor do I advocate doing someone else's academic legwork for them. However, should a new member show they have applied themselves and they can posit some opinions of their own, then I would certainly be prepared to steer them in the correct direction. I have neither the time nor the inclination to write more than a few lines here and there, so there is no suggestion of me doing an essay on someone else's behalf! I still think we should have a "Film / Media Studies" section on the board where some groundrules could be pinned by DB7 so new subscribers know what to do. Thoughts?

09-11-2005, 05:13 PM	#9
whitney has no status. Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 6 iTrader: (0)	Don't get me wrong everyone, i have indeed spent time researching, through the internet, books, etc. I did not post my query for everyone else to do my work, but to receive idea's to enhance my assignment. Unlike most of my peers, i would like to gain top marks knowing i had actually put hard graft into my work!! BaBy PiNk

09-11-2005, 07:16 PM	#11
AndrewLA has no status. Senior Member Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 147 iTrader: (0)	I'm curious what made you choose those three films. Is the subject only "Britishness" in modern movies? Or does it encompass British movies through the decades? That would seem to be a more interesting approach, since you can discuss changes and development in film as British society evolved -- but then, you'll need at least a couple of titles from the past. (I hate to be so obvious, especially on this forum, but THE LIFE AND DEATH OF COLONEL BLIMP still speaks passionately across the years to some deep and fundamental notions of "Britishness.")

09-11-2005, 07:40 PM	#12
sanndevil has no status. Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Streatham SW2 Posts: 387 Country: iTrader: (0)	Yes, your choice of films has probably exponentially increased your workload! I would be tempted to reconsider if I were in your boots. Jeffrey Richards book "Films and Britsh National Identity: From Dickens to Dad's Army" will give you an excellent overview but doesn't contain references to any of your three. Also, if you go to the Amazon website and do a search on the word Britishness you'll find many helpful texts which your college library should be able to source through inter-library loans. Good luck!