the ministry of information in british cultural memory - iamcr

The Ministry of Information in British Cultural MemoryAn analysis of twenty-first century Mass Observation responses

Katherine HowellsKing’s College London

@KHowellsKCL

Mass Observation

• Mass Observation project started in 1981

• Directive issued in Spring 2009• Part one titled ‘The Second World War’

• Responses from 235 volunteers• Open-ended questions• Responses encouraged from writers of all ages

Katherine Howells@KHowellsKCL

#IAMCR2016

Remembering processes

“Her stories stemmed from how few girls there were to how many servicemen and the dances they used to have! Also tinged with sadness though for the friends she made who did not return…The dance music of the time - big bands of Glenn Miller and the like, seem to sum up the feeling of almost desperation to relax and enjoy life whilst they could.”(Female, aged 50)

“Mum talks a lot about her time in the WRAF and liked the whole 'service life' scene. I don't think Mum ever settled back into 'civvy street'. I think that was the only time she was truly happy… The people then were more of a community and tended to look after each other and care for their neighbours… The whole country is splintered and diluted but during war time, everybody was pulling together.”(Female, aged 42)


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“All that real horror is right here on our streets now, and the papers are full of it and the crooked ways of politicians and councillors, amongst others, whilst during the war you could leave your door unlocked, no one other than your own would enter, and the milkman could leave the milk outside your door quite safely, and you were quite safe outside even at night, no one tried to rob you. Those really were the good days.”(Female, aged 86)

“The world seems smaller, more crowded, more intrusive, more fearful and less well-mannered than I care for…I do sincerely believe that the options available to my grandchildren are not nearly so varied and exciting as those I found in my early twenties when the world was my oyster and everyone in it potentially my friend.”(Male, aged 87) Katherine Howells

@KHowellsKCL#IAMCR2016


“I always feel a sense of pride when I watch them, but remember I was born during the war, I doubt younger generations would feel the same.”(Female, aged 64)

“Sometimes, we old ones who survived the war feel a sort of contempt for the people we're breeding now. The greedy, the work-shy, the hangers-on, the people swindling this country by taking every hand-out that's on offer.”(Female, aged 77) Katherine Howells



“When I was young I was struck by the excitement; now I appreciate the human costs which are depicted, too. I have grown up.”(Male, aged 71)

“When I first watched the films as a young boy I remember the excitement and the sense of danger… Over time, when watching the films they make me feel very proud to be British and reinforce my belief that we owe a lot to the men who gave their lives in this conflict.”(Male, aged 22)


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“How I wished, as a child, that I could have taken part in the war… But as an adult - how grateful I am that the timing of my birth excluded me from the horror of fighting.”(Male, aged 65)

“One year, when I was at Polytechnic, a group of us 'boycotted' Remembrance Day. In the idealism of youth, we considered it to be a glorification of war… Far from glorifying war, Remembrance Day has become a symbol of the futility of war and also its inevitability, given human nature, which we must always try to mitigate.”(Male, aged 46) Katherine Howells


References to each source type


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References to Ministry of Information sources and campaigns


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References to each source type made in each text location

Code Title

A What does it mean to you?

B Remembering

C The traces of the Second World War

D Films and TV programmes

E Books

F Information about the Second World War, events and activities

G Last but not least.... A Special Task

Average number of references to each source type, split by age bracket


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Average number of references to MoI campaigns, split by age bracket


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Average number of references to MoI campaigns, split by gender


#IAMCR2016

The Ministry of Information in British Cultural MemoryAn analysis of twenty-first century Mass Observation responses

Katherine HowellsKing’s College London

@KHowellsKCL

the ministry of information in british cultural memory - iamcr

Education