I think you'd learn quite a lot about Britishness watching the various panel shows available.
What can sitcoms teach me about Britishness? Page 3
Quote: WrongTale @ August 9 2009, 4:13 PM BSTLOL. Full story here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8185159.stm
(softened one, as the quote should read:
"The only problem is that the proportion of British tourists is very high here. If we had other tourists as well those Britons who are pissing around would not be so visible. It will not be politically correct, but sadly, this is their specialization.")On topic: I'm very interested in your answers. Seriously.
What about Blackadder as epitome of Britishness? Or Victor Meldrew?
Blackadder: British sense of humour, perhaps. Britishness, no.
Meldrew: A certain repressed anger being released. But not really representative of Britishness.
Outnumbered?
Although the characters are very stereotypical, I like Keeping Up Appearances for showing extremes of Britishness.
Quote: Dolly Dagger @ August 7 2009, 4:38 PM BSTAre you writing an essay or something on this topic gardenshed?
I am enthuisiastic to understand British identity and culture as much as possible. I have admired british humour since I was young, and think it might be an entertaining way to learn the culture and history.
I would be interested to read any essays on the subject.
How does the world of Hancock's Half hour differ from that of more recent sitcoms? Does the format reflect changes in British identity?
No.
Quote: Marc P @ August 10 2009, 1:05 PM BSTNo.
You don't think that there have been changes in the last 50 years?
Hancock was in black and white. Most British things are in colour now.
Quote: gardenshed @ August 10 2009, 2:01 PM BSTYou don't think that there have been changes in the last 50 years?
No. It takes longer than that to change the British identity. Napoleon couldn't do it.
Quote: Marc P @ August 10 2009, 2:35 PM BSTNo. It takes longer than that to change the British identity. Napoleon couldn't do it.
Yeah, Napoleon's sitcom was cancelled after just one series.
Quote: Tim Walker @ August 10 2009, 2:33 PM BSTHancock was in black and white. Most British things are in colour now.
Except opinions.
Accept opinions.
Quote: Tim Walker @ August 10 2009, 2:39 PM BSTYeah, Napoleon's sitcom was cancelled after just one series.
'Not a lot tonight Josephine' was hilarious but to be fair it did lose something in tramslation and the Debbie McGee and Paul Daniels casting in the remake really didn't help.
Quote: Nil Putters @ August 10 2009, 2:41 PM BSTExcept opinions.
Accept opinions.
Is this cryptic? 
Quote: Nil Putters @ August 10 2009, 2:41 PM BSTExcept opinions.
So how do sitcoms reflect the changes in opinions?
Quote: gardenshed @ August 10 2009, 3:14 PM BSTSo how do sitcoms reflect the changes in opinions?
They are like a mirror of society. They can only reflect what is already there.