Exercise 1. Watch the film carefully and complete the following sentences with the words and word-combinations from the film:
1. London is such a popular business and vacation … that it is one of the only four cities which can be reached … 2. The … is the area which most tourists want to see: it goes from … to South Kensington and … where most theatres and restaurants are. 3. One of the myths about London is that you have to take … to get anywhere. It is a … 4. One of the things about Leicester Square is that you can buy … and … tickets here. 5. (John Mortimer, lawyer and writer) And this is … where you can be robbed and … and where everything is … lorry. 6. … is a great place to sell and to visit because the atmosphere is … 7. Street entertainers are free to do their … when they want and how they want. 8. All cabbies must do the … – a test unique to … 9. Chefs have no … to cook right in places near average … because people will come to eat anyway. 10. (Michael Caine, actor and restaurateur) I can name a few places in London now where they can give you a... for your … 11. The Afro-Caribbean food is … in London, things like hot bonnet chillies and bread fruit are becoming … of London … 12. Older people are more … traditional food like … and … 13. (An American living in London) There are a number of things you have to … into. At one point you think you have got it.., you have got it figured out. 14. A case of wine was sold at an auction in New-York for $120 000 which … makes one bottle worth $10 000. 15. Some believe that a man’s outfit should … a … 16. Oh,..! Look at that! That is … 17. A hat on actually makes the whole outfit very … 18. Cricket is exactly like baseball in that … 19. … and … (name of the shop) makes clothes for everyone ranging from … to … But the store is most famous for outfitting … and … 20. To become a barrister, you have to put on this extraordinary uniform, also known as … dress: black.., lace.., and a … 21. And you have to go down to the … of … dressed up in all this … to swear this … of … to the Queen. 22. There is a great free show … in law courts. 23. Lawyers in England are divided into … and … 24. Future barristers still follow the old tradition of apprenticeship – … with the.., the established members of the Bar. 25. The Temple Church is a … church built in … by … This is where lawyers come to … and … 26. We … (landed) only today and have no definite plans yet. 27. The modern idea of … play will … Shakespeare … to how it was performed and it should be performed. 28. For most Londoners … life revolves around the … pub. 29. There is an entire countryside out there which we really want to … 30. Dominating the city are … buildings built for the rich who … to enjoy the spa. 31. To make this … back in time you have to think what it would be like to walk into the largest building you have ever seen in your life and then just think of a … factor.
Exercise 2. Outline the main points of the film using the language above.
Exercise 3. Point out 3–4 culturally-specific language items in the film and suggest possible contexts.
Exercise 4. Identify and comment on the cultural information, stereotypes and topics involved.
Exercise 5. Write a 300-word commentary on the culture shock that the Americans experienced during their visit to England.
UNIT 7. WHAT DO THEY ASPIRE TO?
‘Having It All’
AMERI-THINK: Life is about ‘Having It All’ – the most American of catch-phrases. For years Yanks went around parroting well-worn cliché’s like, ‘You Can’t Have Everything’. But somewhere between the Fifties and the Eighties they changed their minds. Post-war Baby-Boomers – possibly the most influential members of society – now believe that you not only can, but should have it all: beauty, intelligence, ability, money, health – and fame as a result. The catch is that nothing happens unless you make it happen. Hence, the compulsion to exercise, diet, wheel-and-deal, write books, appear on talk shows, and marry ‘up’. Also to live for ever, since there’s scant time for total success in one lifetime. Even TV commercials appeal to the Yank’s sense of comprehensive ambition; the slogan for low-cal beer Michelob Light runs, ‘Oh Yes, You Can Have It All!’
Recent changes in television shows document the shift in attitudes. Three of today’s brand-leaders are Dallas, Dynasty, and Falconcrest – serials depicting the world of the super-rich. Their popularity suggests that the American Dream has been up-graded... from the sweet, suburban comforts depicted in Father Knows Best, Ozzie and Harriet, and Life of Riley, to hard-core mega-wealth and all its privileges – including the freedom to be nasty. The Carringtons are fascinating because they let Americans see why and how the rich are different.
New American role-models are those who fend for themselves (‘Rambo’) and get their own way. ‘Go for it!’ is the buzz-word. People who’ve taken the idea to heart include athletes, rock-stars, models, businessmen, newscasters, and even TV weathermen. Many enjoy huge incomes, and convince themselves that ‘I deserve it’. The syndicated television series, Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous, illustrates the material rewards of Me-think, and is a runaway success. Problem is that the possibility of ‘Having It All’ is a mixed blessing. Many Americans are now restless, confused about how best to invest their energies. The question on nearly 250 million pairs of lips is, ‘if it’s all within reach, if I can have it all – why haven’t I got it? How can I get it? And when is enough enough?”
BRIT-THINK: Muddling through
Brits feel no desire to ‘Have It All’. They were so relieved to learn that ‘you can’t have everything’. They prefer to relax, and enjoy working within life’s natural boundaries – ‘I’m not very good at games’ – instead of kicking against them. As a nation, they are so fond of limitation, that where necessary, they will invent one: ‘You are not the type to wear red’; ‘He’s not well suited to business’.
Brits hate being required to hustle and change the course of destiny – even in their own interests. They have a great and easy contentment, and can derive much satisfaction from small successes: ‘Look, dear, I’ve cleaned the fish-pond.’ It’s not – as is often said – they are lazy. But they’ve seen the future, and decided that it doesn’t work, and is not worth getting hot and bothered about. They are united in the belief that most change is neither possible nor desirable …which also rules out improvement. So, Brits of all classes live for the moment. They have no master-plan, no ultimate ambition: ‘What’s is it all about, Alfie?’ As a group, they are a bit chaotic. It is a particularly British concept ‘to muddle through’.
This distinguishes them from Yanks, who are in every sense goal-orientated …‘I always do 27 lengths before breakfast’ / ‘I want to be a millionaire before I’m 40’. In general, Brits are less single-minded and determined. Their private aspirations – if they can be identified, since they embarrass Brits – are more modest: ‘This year, Muriel, I’ll wipe out the greenfly’.
Historically, Brits have been wary of men of driving ambition (‘that’s how you get dictators. Or Scargill’). It’s a romantic notion, anyway, for any one of us to think we can change the world. Silly to believe there is a reason why our own interests should prevail. That way lies ruin … Look at the Second World War. Far better to relax, and cultivate your garden. Anything for a quiet life.
Yanks want to know why we’re here. They’re desperate to leave a mark on life, to impose some order on the chaos. They need to decide about money, or power, or love, and act accordingly. Brits know why we’re here. In the words of the song, ‘we’re here because we are here’.
