Being English – and married to an American girl – I spend a lot of time discussing our cultural differences. At Christmas (in Alabama) my wife’s mother was quizzing me about it too. I was talking to her about America’s ‘can-d0′ culture compared to our ‘probably-shouldn’t-do’ stiff upper lip.
As always, when this type of conversation pops up, my mind leaps back into A. A. Gill’s The Angry Island, which is both brilliant and makes me look clever when I quote from it.
A. A. Gill says – rather mockingly – that the English’s defining characteristic is our “heroic self-control”:
“It’s not what they are, but their ability to suppress what they are, that’s great about the English.”
Given the author’s unapologetic assault on the English, you have to take the praise with a pinch of salt, but he is making a serious point. He goes on to reference the title of the book and the importance of inner ‘anger’ and repression that lies in English hearts:
“The English aren’t people who strive for greatness, they are driven to it by a flaming irritation”
Because…
“Controlled anger is the great impetus to achievement. You have to do something with it. Anger simply won’t let you be comfortable in your own skin.”
It’s true. We’re not comfortable with being seen to strive for excellence. If Superman had been an English comic, he would have been called ‘Does OK Man’.
An exquisite and topical example of this difference between English and American culture can be seen in two TV Shows with very similar plots but starkly different titles. Both are about ordinary people who are gifted super powers. The American show is called Heroes. Of course it is. What’s the British show called? Misfits.
Maybe the dust settling on a new decade is making me giddy, or maybe it’s due to my American influence, but I think we’re in need of a bit more gratuitous positivity in England. Just for a bit. Maybe three parts Hero to seven parts Misfit? I might give it a go. Not too much of a go though, you understand. I’d hate to become happier as a result.
