British Civilization

BRITISH CIVILIZATION

Time: Monday 18.00-19.40 Room: Main Bldg. Studio 111 Wednesday 16-17.40 206 – GÖCS Thursday 12.00-13.40 206 – GÖCS

Instructor: Győri Zsolt [email protected] Code: BTAN12000BA Office Hours: Mon.:16-16.50 BTAN18007BA Thu.: 14-14.50

Course Description: The course has a double aim. One the one hand it was designed to introduce students certain important aspects of British civilization, that is, basic cultural phenomena including the political, legal, economic and welfare systems of Great Britain, its rich linguistic, ethnic and religious variety, its media institutions and links to the international community. On the other hand the course aims to improve the students’ language skills. Prior to the seminars concise chapters of James O’Driscoll’s textbook entitled Britain are to be read to secure that class discussions will be as productive as possible. The discussions involve exercises on the vocabulary and comprehension questions concerning the assigned reading among which you will find various forms of prose texts, poetry, newspaper articles, iconic British feature films, video reports, documentaries, cartoons and charts.

Week Date Topic 1 9.11 ORIENTATION AND GENERAL INTRODUCTION 9.14 9.15 Materials used in class: http://www.uktestonline.co.uk/?p=sample_test George VI speaks on September 3, 1939 with tapescript http://www.awesomestories.com/assets/george-vi-sep-3-1939 film: a scene from The King’s Speech (the final speech) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AHY2UzOonig&feature=related On some popular images and cultural merits of GB: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i- SKiLosRXw&list=FLEtfLJBKfBLY&index=5

2 9.19 THE COUNTRY AND NATION: ENGLISH VS. BRITISH 9.21 Required reading: from James O’Driscoll: Britain, Chapter 3, 9.22 “Geography” pp. 36-40. Handout(s): God Save the Queen and William Blake’s Jerusalem

Further materials (optional): “What is Britishness? Citizenship, values and identity.” www.redpepper.org.uk/What-is-Britishness-Citizenship “Is Britain still ‘the dirty man of Europe’?” www.greenpeace.org.uk/blog/nuclear/is-britain-still-the-dirty-man-of- europe

Materials used in class: Video clips: The Union Jack: http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=DiDW87aainA&list=FLEtfLJBKfBLY&index=1 British AccentS http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVMl_ZlwQQg The Scottish identity according to Braveheart: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLrrBs8JBQo&feature=related The Scottish identity according to Trainspotting: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqgkZDbe4Xk 3 9.26 NATIONAL CHARACTERISTICS, ICONS AND GENDER ROLES 9.28 Required reading: from James O’Driscoll: Britain, Chapter 4, 9.29 “Identity” pp. 42-45 AND “Attitudes” pp. 55-66. Handout(s): Holidays in the UK

Further materials (optional): Jeremy Paxman, “The ‘True Born Englishmen’ and Other Lies.” George Orwell: ‘The Lion and the Unicorn.” http://www.orwell.ru/library/essays/lion/english/ George Mikes, “Soul and Understatement.” (PDF)

Materials used in class: Video: “Women know your limits!” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LS37SNYjg8w Cartoons: Hereditary Peers / The House of Lords 4 10.3 POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS 10.5 Required reading: James O’Driscoll: Britain, Chapter 8: “The 10.6 government” pp. 82-89 AND Chapter 9: “Parliament” pp. 90-97. Handout(s): chart of the British Political System

Further materials (optional): Brian Wheeler (2007) “The Tony Blair Story.” http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/6506365.stm Paul Moss (2010) “Why has Eton produced so many prime ministers?” news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/election_2010/8622933.stm Lesley Dingle and Bradley Miller (2004) “features – UK Constitutional Reform.” http://www.llrx.com/features/ukconstitution.htm

Materials used in class: Powerpoint presentation: “Government in the UK” AND “A Portrait of Tony Blair Video clip: “Brown vs. Cameron during Queen's Speech debate” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TsAa9VmwOaI 5 10.10 ATTITUDES TOWARDS POLITICS AND THE PRESENT STATE OF THE 10.12 MONARCHY 10.13 Required reading: James O’Driscoll: Britain, Chapter 6: “Political life” pp. 82-89 AND Chapter 7: “The Monarchy” pp. 90-97 Film: The Queen ( dir.: Stephen Frears, 2006) Handout(s): Limits on Absolutism AND “Left vs Right” by David McCandless (PNG) Materials used in class: Video clip: Queen Elizabeth II speech to parliament 2010 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMHseSSRxgQ&feature=related Powerpoint presentation: “The British Monarchy” Cartoon: The State of the Monarchy 6 10.17 ECONOMY, TRADE, FINANCIAL POLICIES AND SERVICES 10.19 Required reading: John McCormick: Contemporary Britain Chapter 10.20 6:“The Economy” pp.147-175 Handout(s): Circular Flow Model of Income and Output

Further materials (optional): David Kern: „UK Economic Decline: ‘Myth’ or Reality?” http://www.rozenbergps.com/books/britain/kern.pdf

Materials used in class: News clip: “Agriculture Minister and BSE.” 16 May 1990 www.youtube.com/watch?v=QobuvWX_Grc ”UK Banks in £37 billion bail out.” 12 October 2008 www.news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7666460.stm Cartoons: related to North Sea Oil AND The Mad Cow Disease 7 10.24 LAW, EDUCATION, CLASS 10.26 Required reading: James O’Driscoll: Britain, Chapter 11: “The law” 10.27 pp. 106-112 AND Chapter 14: “Education” 130-140. Handout(s): The Education System - A Quick Chart AND Outline of Court Structure in the UK.

Further materials (optional): Sean Coughlan: “Education, education, education.” (BBC News, 14-05-2007) http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/uk_news/education/6564933.stm “Monty Python’s Flying Circus Court Scene”. www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLplQWB2S_8 “Harrogate Grammar School Celebration Evening Film 2009.” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rj7JQcSLJqk “Documentary of Harrow School.” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z09vwus7puQ George Mikes: “How to be Class Conscious.” (PDF) “The Grumpy Guide To Class.” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ZAyYBDUNug

Materials used in class: Powerpoint presentation: “UK Education System” - British Council presentation 8 10.31 CONSULTATION WEEK 11.2 11.3 9 11.7 MID-TERM PAPER 11.9 11.10 10 11.14 INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS, EUROSCEPTICISM 11.16 Required reading: James O’Driscoll: Britain, Chapter 12 : “International 11.17 Relations” pp. 113-120

Further materials (optional): “Where Are British Troops and Why?” BBC 29 April 2008 www.news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4094818.stm “British Nationalism and the Falklands War 1982”. www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1TeHq2ofZA “British prime minister Gordon Brown addresses the Congress of the United States.” www.youtube.com/watch?v=6W-AJRo5G4I George Mikes: “How to Loose an Empire.” (PDF)

Materials used in class: News reports: “Harold Macmillan: The Wind of Change.” www.youtube.com/watch?v=5fjiHI1apUI&feature=related “British prime minister Tony Blair on the UK position with regards to the European Constitution Treaty.” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zw28PID-1rQ Powerpoint presentation: “Commonwealth, EU, North Atlantic Relations” Cartoons: The Falklands War 11 11.21 RELIGION, RACE RELATIONS, MULTICULTURALISM 11.23 Required reading: James O’Driscoll: Britain, Chapter 12 : “Religion” 11.24 pp. 121-129. Film: East Is East (dir.: Damien O’Donnell, 1999) Handout(s): Chart of Structure of the Church of England, Church Attendance, passage from “The New Empire Within Britain”

Further materials (optional): Alex Kirby, “Special Report: Muslims in Britain.” (BBC News, 23-11-1997) http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/special_report/1997/religion/33539.stm Tariq Modood: “How to live with who we are.” (Guardian, 21-01-2005) http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2005/jan/21/islamandbritain.comment12? INTCMP=SRCH Salman Rushdie, “The New Empire Within Britain.” http://www.intralinea.it/intra/ipermedia/IperGrimus/_private/sr/newempire .htm Mr Bean in Church http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZMgP2ai79Q&feature=relmfu

Materials used in class: Powerpoint presentation: “Religious diversity in Britain” News report: “Address by the Chair of the UK's Equality and Human Rights Commission” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xc7OODZwKn4 12 11.28 YOUTH CULTURE AND LEISURE 11.30 Required reading: John McCormick: Contemporary Britain. From 12.1 Chapter 7:“Sports and Leisure” pp. 193-198. Film: This is England (dir.: Shane Meadows, 2006) Handout(s): International comparisons of public engagement in culture and sport

Further materials (optional): Where do British People Go on Their Holidays? http://woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/customs/questions/holidays.htm Ray Massey: “Shame of binge drink Britons abroad as number arrested on holiday soars 15%” http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1043714/Shame-binge-drink- Britons-abroad-number-arrested-holiday-soars-15.html Stephen Wilson: “Despite riots and looting, London Olympic organizers go ahead with 2012 preparations.” http://www.newser.com/article/d9p0itlg2/despite-riots-and-looting- london-olympic-organizers-go-ahead-with-2012-preparations.html

Materials used in class: News report: “Riots & Violence Escalated across UK” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eh-2_L2HVLI&feature=related “The Foreign and Commonwealth Office on British Behaviour Abroad” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5meTD1wFrY Powerpoint presentation: “Youth Subculture in the UK” 13 12.5 THE MEDIA AND THE WELFARE SYSTEM 12.7 Required reading: James O’Driscoll, Britain, Chapter 16: “The 12.8 Media.” pp. 151-162 AND Chapter 18: “Welfare.” pp. 168-173.

Further materials (optional): “Murdoch Signals End of Free News.” www.news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/8186701.stm George Mikes: “In Praise of Television.” AND “On Advertisements.”(PDF) Anthony Browne: “Why the NHS is bad for us.” http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2001/oct/07/comment.comment

Materials used in class: Video clip: “A Healthier Britain –National Health Service 1948” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ebRbHDzG3pg&feature=related Powerpoint presentation: “The Media in Britain” Song: The Daily Mail Song by Dan&Dan http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=5eBT6OSr1TI&list=FLQZTyMIhUtMq65tYoAxmVrw&index=7 14 12.12 End-Term Test 12.14 12.15

Please note that the following web-site contains links to extremely useful material while preparing for classes and tests: http://cw.routledge.com/textbooks/oakland/ch04.asp Requirements Presence at classes: no more than three absences are permitted. More than 3 absences automatically results in failing the course. Assigned reading: the assigned texts are to be read for the classes. Quizzes: can be expected at the beginning of seminars to check students’ familiarity with the assigned material (concerning both its contents and vocabulary). It will take approximately 5 minutes to write these tests. If the total of the quizzes does not reach 60% percent, the entire course fails to be graded. Latecomers will not be allowed to write them, nor those who are absent from the class. In case of failure, there will be one more chance to pass them on week 14, together with the end-term test. Also, quizzes count 10 % of the final grade. Participation in classroom discussion: the student is expected to take an active part in classroom discussions. This activity contributes to the seminar grade by 10% of the overall achievement. Mid-term test: an objective test on the material covered in the first half of the term. The test must be written at the time scheduled in the syllabus. End-term test: an objective test on the works discussed during the term. The test must be written at the time scheduled in the syllabus. Film Screening: Students will be provided with the films discussed in classes.

Evaluation: Mid-term test 40% End-term test 40% Occasional quizzes 10 Participation in class discussions 10% 100%

Percentage Grade 87–100 5 75–86 4 63–74 3 51–62 2 0–50 1 Neither mid-term tests, nor end-term tests can be rewritten. If the mid-term test receives a very low percentage, the student will have to write a very good end-term test in order to get a grade for the course. Should the mark for the mid-term and the end-term tests fail to add up to 50 %, the final grade for the course will be 1. Only occasional quizzes can be rewritten, as it is described above.

(N.B. NO GRADE CAN BE OBTAINED UNLESS ALL THE COURSE COMPONENTS ARE FULFILLED)