BRITISH STUDIESBRITISH STUDIES

THIS SUBJECT IS DISCUSSING THE THIS SUBJECT IS DISCUSSING THE HISTORY AND MATTERS PERTAINING TO HISTORY AND MATTERS PERTAINING TO SYSTEM OF BRITISH GOVERNMENT AND SYSTEM OF BRITISH GOVERNMENT AND

SOCIETYSOCIETY

TOPICS OF DISCUSSIONTOPICS OF DISCUSSION

• Snapshot BritainSnapshot Britain• Government and PoliticsGovernment and Politics• Culture, Style and Social ProfileCulture, Style and Social Profile• Ethnicity and LanguageEthnicity and Language• Education, Work and LeisureEducation, Work and Leisure• The Forces of Law and OrderThe Forces of Law and Order• Religion and HeritageReligion and Heritage• Gender, Sex and FamilyGender, Sex and Family• Youth Culture and AgeYouth Culture and Age• The MediaThe Media• TransportationTransportation• The Importance of Being EnglishThe Importance of Being English• Final ProjectFinal Project

REFERENCESREFERENCES

- McDowallMcDowall, David. 2004. Britain in Close-up. Essex: , David. 2004. Britain in Close-up. Essex: LongmanLongman

- Storry, Mike and Peter Childs (Ed.). 1997. British Cultural Storry, Mike and Peter Childs (Ed.). 1997. British Cultural Studies. New York and London: RoutledgeStudies. New York and London: Routledge

- Oakland, John. 1995. British Civilization. London and Oakland, John. 1995. British Civilization. London and New York: RoutledgeNew York: Routledge

- Mikes, George. 1984. How to be A Brit. New York: Mikes, George. 1984. How to be A Brit. New York: Penguin BooksPenguin Books

- The British Council. 1997.The Country and the CityThe British Council. 1997.The Country and the City- _______________ . 1996. The Media_______________ . 1996. The Media- _______________ . 1994Language and Social Life_______________ . 1994Language and Social Life- _______________ . 1994 Changing Class Attitude_______________ . 1994 Changing Class Attitude

LECTURE CONTRACTLECTURE CONTRACT• Rules of attending the subject:Rules of attending the subject: 14 meetings14 meetings students and lecturer should attend 75% =students and lecturer should attend 75% = 4 times absence4 times absence

● ● Percentage of scoring:Percentage of scoring: midterm test 30%midterm test 30% final test 40%final test 40% assignments 30%assignments 30%

• Tolerable lateness: Tolerable lateness: 10 minutes10 minutes

LECTURE CONTRACTLECTURE CONTRACT

• Assignments weeklyAssignments weekly

in groupsin groups

individualindividual

• Quiz: once in each mid-semesterQuiz: once in each mid-semester

• Presentation: twice in each mid-Presentation: twice in each mid-semester semester

THE GREAT BRITAINTHE GREAT BRITAIN

SNAPSHOT BRITAINSNAPSHOT BRITAIN

GREAT BRITAIN/UNITED KINGDOM

EnglandWales Scotland

NorthernIreland

The British IslesThe British Isles

There are many islands comprising the There are many islands comprising the

Great Britain: Great Britain:

The mainland is the largest isle The mainland is the largest isle consisting of 6 major cities and 11 big consisting of 6 major cities and 11 big citiescities

Ireland is the second largest isle having Ireland is the second largest isle having 1 major city.1 major city.

*) in all, the United Kingdom has 58 cities*) in all, the United Kingdom has 58 cities

Regional populationRegional population

The British have been considered as an The British have been considered as an island race, partly because of their island race, partly because of their imperialism, cultural isolation and imperialism, cultural isolation and international policies.international policies.

The largest population concentration The largest population concentration has been in the south of the country.has been in the south of the country.

The British PopulationThe British Population

An Island RaceAn Island Race

The Germans live in Germany;The Germans live in Germany;

The Romans live in Rome;The Romans live in Rome;

The Turkeys live in Turkey;The Turkeys live in Turkey;

But the English live at home.But the English live at home.

(J.H. Goring, “The Ballad of Lake (J.H. Goring, “The Ballad of Lake

LalooLaloo and other Rhymes”, 1909)and other Rhymes”, 1909)

CountriesCountries

Four countries make up the U KFour countries make up the U K

1. England London1. England London

2. Scotland Edinburgh2. Scotland Edinburgh

3. Wales Cardiff3. Wales Cardiff

4. Northern Ireland Belfast 4. Northern Ireland Belfast

Major financial and commercial centresMajor financial and commercial centres

London Oxford CardiffLondon Oxford Cardiff

Birmingham Glasgow NewcastleBirmingham Glasgow Newcastle

Manchester Leeds EdinburgManchester Leeds Edinburg

Major centres for tourismMajor centres for tourism

London BirminghamLondon Birmingham

Edinburg GlasgowEdinburg Glasgow

Oxford CardiffOxford Cardiff

Manchester YorkManchester York

Sunrise areaSunrise area significant new economic activity is occuring:significant new economic activity is occuring:

EdinburgEdinburghh, Manchester:, Manchester: brewingbrewingSwansea: Swansea: coal miningcoal miningOxford:Oxford: car manufacturingcar manufacturingSheffield:Sheffield: cutlerycutleryAberdeen:Aberdeen: fishingfishingNottingham:Nottingham: lace makinglace makingBirmingham:Birmingham: manufacturingmanufacturingAberdeen, Swansea:Aberdeen, Swansea: oiloilSwansea, Glasgow, Newcastle:Swansea, Glasgow, Newcastle: portsportsEdinburgEdinburghh:: printingprintingEdinburgEdinburghh, Manchester, London:, Manchester, London: publishingpublishingLiverpool, Manchester, London:Liverpool, Manchester, London: televisiontelevisionLeeds:Leeds: textilestextilesLondon, Edinburgh, Glasgow, London, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Oxford, Brighton, York:Oxford, Brighton, York: tourism tourism

Sunset areaSunset area::

Traditional industries have collapsed during the Traditional industries have collapsed during the

past 30 yearspast 30 years

Lancashire, Manchester:Lancashire, Manchester: cotton goodscotton goods

Newcastle, Sunderland:Newcastle, Sunderland: coal exportingcoal exporting

Swanson, Cardiff, Sheffield:Swanson, Cardiff, Sheffield: coal miningcoal mining

Belfast, Nottingham, Leeds:Belfast, Nottingham, Leeds: other textilesother textiles

Swansea, Sheffield:Swansea, Sheffield: iron, steeliron, steel

Glasgow:Glasgow: locomotive manufacture locomotive manufacture

Belfast, Sunderland, Glasgow:Belfast, Sunderland, Glasgow: shipbuildingshipbuilding

Swansea:Swansea: tin miningtin mining

COUNTRY LIFECOUNTRY LIFE• Country life, by contrast, is generally Country life, by contrast, is generally

associated with tradition, community, associated with tradition, community, cultural unity, and “the outdoor life” cultural unity, and “the outdoor life” (camping, caravaning, walking, mountain (camping, caravaning, walking, mountain biking, riding, boating).biking, riding, boating).

• A third place of escape for people from A third place of escape for people from either of communities is the coast:either of communities is the coast:

strong coastal culture incorporating strong coastal culture incorporating trowel fishing, watersports, ports, trowel fishing, watersports, ports, docks, shipping, yachting, etc. docks, shipping, yachting, etc.

Physical featurePhysical feature• Britain’s geographical position is marked Britain’s geographical position is marked

by by

- 0° longitude, which passes through - 0° longitude, which passes through

the international time zone of the international time zone of

Greenwich east of London; Greenwich east of London;

- latitude 50°N in south-west England; - latitude 50°N in south-west England;

- latitude 60°N across the Shetlands. - latitude 60°N across the Shetlands.

• Britain lies within only 10° of latitude and Britain lies within only 10° of latitude and has small and compact size when has small and compact size when compared wit some European countries.compared wit some European countries.

• Britain’s physical area amounts to Britain’s physical area amounts to some 93,025 sq. miles (242,842 sq. some 93,025 sq. miles (242,842 sq. km), most of this is land and the rest km), most of this is land and the rest comprises inland water such as lakes comprises inland water such as lakes and rivers.and rivers.

• England has 50,052 sq. miles England has 50,052 sq. miles (129,634 sq. km), (129,634 sq. km),

• Wales has 7,968 (20,637), Wales has 7,968 (20,637),

• Scotland has 29,799 (77,179) Scotland has 29,799 (77,179)

• Northern Island has 5,206 (13,438).Northern Island has 5,206 (13,438).

• The country was separated from the The country was separated from the continent by the North Sea at its continent by the North Sea at its widest point, and by the English widest point, and by the English Channel at its narrowest point. Channel at its narrowest point.

• The shortest stretch of water The shortest stretch of water between the two land masses is now between the two land masses is now the Strait of Dover between Dover the Strait of Dover between Dover southern and Calais in France (20 southern and Calais in France (20 miles, 32 km). miles, 32 km).

CLIMATECLIMATE

Britain has a moderate climate in terms Britain has a moderate climate in terms of temperature as high as 100of temperature as high as 100ºF / 38ºCºF / 38ºC

as low as -18ºF / -26ºC.as low as -18ºF / -26ºC.

Samuel Johnson, wrote “When two Samuel Johnson, wrote “When two Englishmen meet, their first talk is of Englishmen meet, their first talk is of the weather.” the weather.”

Exercises Exercises 1.1. Could you differ the terms of Britain, Could you differ the terms of Britain,

British, English and England? British, English and England? Examples.Examples.

2.2. According to the people’s activities According to the people’s activities that the densely populated areas are in that the densely populated areas are in the Southern parts of Britain. Explain.the Southern parts of Britain. Explain.

3.3. Climate is becoming the main topic of Climate is becoming the main topic of discussion among the British people. discussion among the British people. Why. Discuss.Why. Discuss.

4.4. Due to the geographical position of Due to the geographical position of Great Britain, the coastal activities are Great Britain, the coastal activities are the main preference. Discuss. the main preference. Discuss.

Discussion Exercises Discussion Exercises 1.1. You live in a green belt area, close to a You live in a green belt area, close to a

city, which has hitherto been protected city, which has hitherto been protected from housing development or new from housing development or new building. A property development group building. A property development group proposes to build a new housing estate proposes to build a new housing estate within the green belt, in an area which within the green belt, in an area which includes a wood (containing trees and includes a wood (containing trees and shrubs where many rare birds and insects shrubs where many rare birds and insects make their homes), and a public recreation make their homes), and a public recreation ground, where people play games or take ground, where people play games or take their dogs for a walk. their dogs for a walk. You have decided to organize a public You have decided to organize a public campaign of opposition to the plan, which campaign of opposition to the plan, which not only shows why the development not only shows why the development would be harmful, but puts forward would be harmful, but puts forward alternative suggestions for consideration.alternative suggestions for consideration.

Discussion Exercises Discussion Exercises 2. You live in an inner-city housing estate. There 2. You live in an inner-city housing estate. There

has been considerable investment in your area, has been considerable investment in your area, in new industries, houses, flats and leisure in new industries, houses, flats and leisure facilities such as restaurants, concert halls and facilities such as restaurants, concert halls and bars. Most of this investment has come from the bars. Most of this investment has come from the private sector. You are concerned, however, private sector. You are concerned, however, that much of this new investment does not help that much of this new investment does not help to solve the problems of your area – to solve the problems of your area – unemployments, homeless, violence, the lack of unemployments, homeless, violence, the lack of parts for children to play, etc. you have decided parts for children to play, etc. you have decided to make all the residents on your estate aware to make all the residents on your estate aware that much of this private investment is serving that much of this private investment is serving the interests of the rich, rather than the poor, the interests of the rich, rather than the poor, and that alternative solutions are required if the and that alternative solutions are required if the problems of your area are to be solved.problems of your area are to be solved.

Discussion Exercises Discussion Exercises 3. You are a member of a group of farmers, who have 3. You are a member of a group of farmers, who have

decided to put pressure on the government to decided to put pressure on the government to change the laws relating to the rights of walkers. change the laws relating to the rights of walkers. The number of walkers who pass through your land The number of walkers who pass through your land has increased enormously over the last few years – has increased enormously over the last few years – to such an extent that they now pose a positive to such an extent that they now pose a positive risk to your livelihood. They refuse to keep to risk to your livelihood. They refuse to keep to footpaths, trample over your crops, and leave litter footpaths, trample over your crops, and leave litter on your land, which can prove dangerous to your on your land, which can prove dangerous to your animals. You have tried to stop them, but cannot animals. You have tried to stop them, but cannot do much as the footpaths that pass through your do much as the footpaths that pass through your land are designated as public footpaths, to be used land are designated as public footpaths, to be used by anyone. You have decided to send a campaign by anyone. You have decided to send a campaign leaflet both to the national newspapers and to the leaflet both to the national newspapers and to the Department of Environment, which not only sets Department of Environment, which not only sets forth your grievances, but suggests possible forth your grievances, but suggests possible solutions (fines? Restrictions on walkers’ rights?). solutions (fines? Restrictions on walkers’ rights?).

Discussion Exercises Discussion Exercises 4. Britain is a highly homogeneous 4. Britain is a highly homogeneous

country in which suggestions of a country in which suggestions of a north-south divide, or of great north-south divide, or of great disparity between rich and poor, are disparity between rich and poor, are exaggerated. Discuss!exaggerated. Discuss!