Culture Archive
Madonna on Britain
When I was 45, I was married again, with two children and living in England. I consider moving to a foreign country to be a very daring act. It wasn’t easy for me. Just because we speak the same language doesn’t mean we speak the same language. I didn’t understand that there
The British and Television (Steptoe & Son, Divided We Stand)
Written on June 14, 2013
in Culture
In the light of this epiphany I even managed to make sense of the state of mind which led to the making of such brilliant examples of native comedy as the episode Divided We Stand (1972) from the sitcom Steptoe & Son. In this episode, middle-aged Harold, who lives with his senile
94% of UK adults would rather live without sex than their mobile phone
Written on May 22, 2013
in Culture
Two thirds of young Britons claim they couldn’t live without their phone 65% of people asked said they couldn’t live without their phone and 53% admitted they’re addicted to their handsets 9% admitted they preferred their mobile phones to their children Daily Mail Οι Βρετανοί ζουν χωρίς σεξ, αλλά όχι χωρίς το
Upper class, middle-class, lower class
Written on April 16, 2013
in Culture
Cleese: (In bowler hat, black jacket and pinstriped trousers) I look down on him (Indicates Barker) because I am upper-class. Barker: (Pork-pie hat and raincoat) I look up to him (Cleese) because he is upper-class; but I look down on him (Corbett) because he is lower-class. I am middle-class Corbett: (Cloth cap
Lack of Mixing Taps in Britain
Written on April 15, 2013
in Culture
Deploring change is the unchangeable habit of an Englishman. —Raymond Postgate Another instance of native masochism blatantly manifesting itself is the high-and-low temperature segregation that is religiously followed even in some of the most non-racist and progressive households. This apartheid in water temperature eternalizes itself by means of the separate taps system,
Is that sign language you’re talking?
Written on April 10, 2013
in Culture
This is a story as related to me by a Greek student in the UK. She had been to a coffee place with a friend of hers who was Italian, and kept chatting away with her the Mediterranean way. At a certain point an English young man approached and asked them, in
The British class system revisited
Written on April 5, 2013
in Culture
Recently the BBC came up with a test (with the pretentious name of “Great British Class Survey”) so that every Brit could be able to ascertain the class they belong in. To start with, I could find it hard to imagine any other people or nation (especially when the initiative comes from one
