Media Brainwashing
I have never been a traveler. I likely have my parents to thank for that because the most exciting family vacation we have been on was to Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. The closest I have come to leaving the country is stepping on the Canadian side of the Niagara Falls border. Personally, I have many preconceptions regarding the British population in London. Due to my lack of cultural exposure, the only backing that my perceptions have is what I have seen in media. Television, movies, and music, in particular, seem to have the most impact on me. I am sure that many of my assumptions are wildly inaccurate, but I intend to thoroughly record them prior to arriving in London, England.
When I hear the term “British” I immediately think of popular television shows, like Downtown Abbey, and movies, such as the Harry Potter series. Many prominent musicians in the United States happen to be from the United Kingdom. My personal favorites have been The Beatles, One Direction, and Adele. To keep up with current events, I enjoy watching John Oliver’s show that mixes news with comedy. All of these factors have blended together in my mind to create a perception that is likely inaccurate.
When I picture London, I immediately imagine poor weather. It always seems to be overcast, rainy, and cold, or at least that’s how it has been in the Harry Potter movies. The climate seems very much like my hometown, Pittsburgh. The terrain appears to be very open in great fields. I imagine the biggest area of civilization is London itself, everything else just being the “wide-open countryside.” London seems to be a busy city, but not nearly as bustling as New York City. I imagine a city about the size of Pittsburgh or Columbus with fewer cars blaring their horns and less heavy construction noise. All around, England itself seems far more peaceful and livable whether you are located in the countryside or downtown.
The citizens of London are some of the most fascinating people to me. I find their accents absolutely captivating. I have been exposed to many on television shows, movies, and news interviews. The accent seems elegant and educated, thus creating the assumption that the British are always highly educated. I picture prim and proper citizens that wear uniforms to school and suits while simply sitting around their home. Compared to this perception, United States citizens seem like dirty, blundering fools. To the British, we are simply ignorant tourists that blindly wander around London on vacation. They appear to have a dry, dark sense of humor and mild unfriendliness. This cannot compare to the overly friendly and welcoming midwestern personality. I am sure it will feel like I am on a different planet when interacting with the locals.
Culture is the final area that I have personal preconceptions about. I immediately picture the traditional “Fish and Chips” dish. It seems like that this is what they eat every day for dinner. I assume as well that all Londoners love tea. They seem to drink it like water in the media that I have been exposed to. The Royal Family appears to be a massive part of everyday life. They seem incredibly well-liked by all citizens. There are no evident political disputes between battling parties like in the United States. Men and women seem to live and breathe soccer, or in their case football. Soccer is loved by all and played by many. It seems to be a key to society that links everyone together in a common interest. Culturally, the United States has a lot in common with England just specific differences in the categories I mentioned. Hotdogs and hamburgers are our “Fish and Chips.” Our Coca-Cola is their tea and their soccer is our football.
While I am confident that these perceptions are mostly incorrect and invalid, they are simply what has been portrayed to me via the media. I am not quite sure what to expect while living like a Londoner, but I could not be more excited. It will be fascinating to learn which of my assumptions were correct, and which could not have been more wrong. The comparison that I make at the conclusion of the trip will surely be very eye-opening. I cannot wait to take full advantage of this amazing opportunity to see what it truly means to be “British.”
Example of my stereotypical beliefs!
