An interesting article from Prospect magazine suggesting that a false version of Britain in Enid Blyton's books contributed to the Leave vote.

 

https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/arts-and...rexit-fantasies

An interesting article from Prospect magazine suggesting that a false version of Britain in Enid Blyton's books contributed to the Leave vote.

 

https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/arts-and...rexit-fantasies

 

And people claim *I* post fanciful nonsense... :rolleyes:

There is at least some logic to the argument. A lot of Leave voters seem to have some rosy-eyed view of a past that never existed. That past has more in common with an Enid Blyton book than it has with reality.

But how many consciously remember those books?

I loved Enid blyton but happily as an adult the comic strip presents showed the racism the class snobbery the shoddy adult supervision the public school bullshit.....

 

I'm sure there are old folk recalling the fake reality though and confusing it with real life :lol:

 

A bit like the idealised 50s comedies in the 70s conveniently ignoring the poverty the racism McCarthyism the cold war...

But how many consciously remember those books?

That's not the point. It's about the general fantasy land in which the books were set, not the individual plots. If you read about something vaguely realistic often enough you can start to lose the sense of what is real and what is fantasy. Just look at Daily Mail readers as an example.

Yes, her writing is a manifestation of Olde Merrie England/Little England and her huge influence has helped to reinforce what exactly English - and British - national identity is for many people from some segments of society. This is a backward/inward-looking outlook and whether deliberately or inadvertently, it excludes various groups, particularly certain classes and those of other ethnicities.

Yes, her writing is a manifestation of Olde Merrie England/Little England and her huge influence has helped to reinforce what exactly English - and British - national identity is for many people from some segments of society. This is a backward/inward-looking outlook and whether deliberately or inadvertently, it excludes various groups, particularly certain classes and those of other ethnicities.

 

What confuses me is, it's apparently OK to be a nationalist in Scotland or Wales, but not in England? :wacko:

Well, it could be worse. They could have taken influence from something else Blyton was fond of, namely playing tennis whilst in the nude.

Interesting...

 

I think on this point most people when looking back forget that the past we see in most media about the past is what it was like for the very rich, or upper middle-class people.

 

All those movies and period dramas about 'the Victorians' or 'the 1950s' or whatever period it is will generally follow the story of a life that even then was not accessible to the majority of people and was nothing like their lives would have been.

What confuses me is, it's apparently OK to be a nationalist in Scotland or Wales, but not in England? :wacko:

Why do you think that might be?

Well, it could be worse. They could have taken influence from something else Blyton was fond of, namely playing tennis whilst in the nude.

 

I think it should be compulsory..... :lol:

Interesting...

 

I think on this point most people when looking back forget that the past we see in most media about the past is what it was like for the very rich, or upper middle-class people.

 

All those movies and period dramas about 'the Victorians' or 'the 1950s' or whatever period it is will generally follow the story of a life that even then was not accessible to the majority of people and was nothing like their lives would have been.

 

Spot on. Real life for me wasn't Terry And June, it was Till Death Us Do Part. All these historical dramas focusing on rich toffs just annoy me, it's as if poor people didn't exist unless they were servants and butlers....

 

Blyton was even more posh in her girl school midnight feasts in dorms Mallory Towers books, where girls were trained to be dutiful wives to rich Nobs and provide the required number of heirs (NB Rees-Mogg MUST have read these when he was a little schoolgirl, sorry, I mean pribately-educated schoolBOY. I know I read them as a little schoolgirl, sorry I mean, Primary schoolBOY. yes, I pushed boundaries, I'd read anything, for boys, for girls, for adults....anything.

 

I heartily suggest everyone go NOW and watch Five Go Mad In Dorset, or FIve Go Mad On Mescalin and piss yourselves laughing.

The thing that annoyed me about Downton Abbey (and Upstairs Downstairs before it) was the portrayal of the household's relationship with the servants. The posh family were always portrayed as being very benevolent towards their staff. No doubt families like that did exist but I'm sure there were plenty of others who treated their servants like some form of lowlife.

 

When the BBC dared to show a less than ideal master / servant relationship, the Daily Mail was, of course, outraged.

Why do you think that might be?

 

I don't know - that's why I asked the question.

English nationalism is blood and soil nationalism (you can’t sit with us) and about English superiority. Hence the leaver rhetoric about how the whole world will be lining up to do free trade agreements with us coz we’re so amazeballs but if India wants visa liberation in return then that is just unacceptable as they should be grateful to be trading with us.

 

Scottish and Welsh nationalism is “civic nationalism” I.e. very migrant friendly and open. More concerned with self governance, taking decisions closer to home and striking out on a more left wing path. The SNP are currently investigating the feasibility of a universal basic income for example. They’ve also been the most vocal on EU citizens rights

Scottish and Welsh nationalism is “civic nationalism” I.e. very migrant friendly and open.

 

Except for the English? :teresa:

Except for the English? :teresa:

 

just the politicians. who can blame them?