Englishman- Stereotypes

[islay]

Greetings : )

I have a very simple question but your answers may help me in writing my
essay. The questions is:

When you think of Englishmen what sterotyped vision come to your mind? Do
you think that any TV program "helped" you to create such a representation?
If so, could you write the titles.

Please, write as much as you can. Both Polish and English will be appreciated.

Thanks in advance :)

[kylie1]

excessive interest in the life of the Royals
talk funny
5 o'clock tea
custard, puddings and bangers
getting overly excited over the smallest scandals
dry humor I can't understand
people still have butlers in England
eccentric, aloof
bad teeth (I am stretching it a bit

:)

[kylie1]

I am just joking. Don't take it too seriously, please!

[nasza_maggie]

Phil and Grant in Eastenders.

The days of Carey Grant are long gone.....

[kylie1]

I am sure they are but this is how I see the Brits with a little tongue in
cheek. I am not a spring chicken and it's been ages since I visited Her
Majesty's homeland.

[ms.jones]

Can you give an example of eccentric English behaviuor? :)

It's true about bad (crooked) teeth.

[kylie1]

I think you want me to rock the boat and I am not into it. I don't want to get
on anybody's wrong side.
I felt personally they were less accepting of others, more aloof and a bit
stiff.

[ms.jones]

Omly a little, honest! It's just that I remembered that before I knew any
better I thought that Dame Edna was the best example of English eccentricity.
I don't think they are really less accepting of others. How does it show?

[kylie1]

I love Dame Edna. "She" is something else, a real ham. I saw the guy on
Saturday Night Life and I was on the floor laughing and then I had to makea
few trips to the washroom. My bladder isn't that strong any more, you see. I
love that sort of eccentricity. Talk about comedians. I don't understand Monty
Python at all. I've seen him once on someone's DVD and I can't get the humor.
Can you?
Don't you find the British people a little aloof? Like I said, it was a long
time ago for me. Life goes on, things change, people change. I like the Brits a
lot regardless of what I said. Honest!...but I still like it better here.

I thought no one said anything on that topic so I just decided to put down a
word or two. PLease, don't take it as criticism. I hope others can post up
their own thoughts as well.:)

[islay]

Well, in my essay I have to compare- myth and realities :> and when it came to
that "aloofed" Briton I found the contradiction in Persons like Damien Hirst
(and whole yBA), Nigel Kennedy, and the Punk movement;

[ms.jones]

Aloof? Some some I do. My husband thinks that it's because of the mixture of
Nordic/northern influences (in Europe the further south you go the more
expressive people are?) especially Danish (don't show much emotion on the
outside?) and Anglo-Saxon (German)aloofness, a few centuries of Puritan
influence and the class system - the higher the social class the more aloof
they appear (you would't call the characters on Eastenders aloof, would you?
I've come across a comment that "to American ears, British spoken English can
sound aloof, educated, cold or evil (just consider how many movie villains are
English). Likewise, the written form can look old-fashioned, quaint or fussy,
but that could be because Americans aren't used to it."
I think the English are great at stepping back and poking fun at themselves. I
never took to Monty Python either but I love what they can do with human small-
mindedness like in 'Till death do us part' or more recently 'The Office'
or 'Little Britain'.

I've found an interesting page 'The Xenophobe's guide to...'
The english page isn't brilliant but I really enjoyed what they said about the
Poles

www.ovalbooks.com/xeno/English.html
www.ovalbooks.com/xeno/Poles.html
A polarised people
The Poles are either bubbling with life, or comatose; they love or they loathe.
It is this total commitment to the occupation of the moment which earns them
the reputation of being mercurial. As Hemar wrote in his song: 'If only Poles
did systematically and economically what they do spontaneously, they would be
perfect.'

Necessity is the mother of invention
Key national characteristics are adaptability, a knack for improvisation, and
the ability to make the best of what is available. A good Polish cook is one
who can make gourmet soup from a rusty nail.

The Polish touch
Devotion to style pervades all areas of life: the table might be rickety, but
it is covered with a snowy tablecloth and decorated with a vase of flowers.

Never say never
When the Communists rather foolishly tried to stop the Poles practising their
religion, the churches filled to overflowing. 'Forbidden' is a term of
encouragement to a Pole.

True or what?

[dawid.kingloff]

> I've come across a comment that "to American ears, British spoken English can
> sound aloof, educated, cold or evil (just consider how many movie villains
are
> English). Likewise, the written form can look old-fashioned, quaint or fussy,

:) How odd. I've been told that American girls love that accent. It was even
portrayed in a movie "Love Actually", if I recall the title correctly.

[dawid.kingloff]

sorry for THE article. :)

[dawid.kingloff]

> I felt personally they were less accepting of others, more aloof and a bit
> stiff.
you should've gone for a couple of pints with them. that helps a lot in most
cases. no kidding. :)

[kylie1]

Our cable TV here shows reruns of "Keeping Up Appearances" with Hyacinth and
Richard. I have seen that a million times and I can't get enough of it. My
favorite character is Onslow and grampa who still thinks he is a German
paratrooper. I think it should rank highest in regards to British comedy.
Thelanguage humor is unbelievable and it makes it my favorite British comedy.

A pint of McGuinness would have been nice back then, but I was too young and
didn't know booze from orange juice, had no boyfriends and had never been
kissed. :)

[dawid.kingloff]

> didn't know booze from orange juice, had no boyfriends and had never been
> kissed. :)

poor thing... :)
by the way, I was thinkig... well... just wondering if you happen to know...
ok, let's put it straight: do you have a boyfriend? ;)

[kylie1]

Sorry, have been married for a loooong long time.
Heads just don't turn any more when I walk down the street. used to though :):)

[dawid.kingloff]

I'm sure he is a nice chap. :)

[kylie1]

He is a good guy.
Bless you, you are very kind :) :)

[shangazi]

bbc prime shows Yes,Minister + The Good Life + Keeping Up Appearances, and also
u can read more in Culture Vulture published by MacMillan, or just type in
'stereotypes of the english' in your browser and u get some results. happy searches!

[shangazi]

www.google.com/search?hl=pl&q=stereotypes+of+the+english&spell=1

[tierieszkowa]

Englishmen are snobbish and arrogant, have bad teeth, nasty food and they also
smoke too much :-)
Cheers!

[princessjobaggy]

They're ignorant and drink too much

[ms.jones]

These are from a book 'How to be an alien' by George Mikes. Very old but
probably still close to the mark.
•People on the continent either tell you the truth or lie; in England they
hardly ever lie, but they would not dream of telling you the truth.
•The English have no soul; they have the understatement instead.
*In England it is bad manners to be clever, to assert something confidently. It
may be your personal view that two and two make four, but you must not state it
in a self-assured way, because this is a democratic country and others may be
of a different opinion. :D