Sunday, October 15, 2006
BLACKPOOL OR CHAMP DE MARS
This story earlier in the week isn't important. But, still, it's worth reflecting upon -- for a Sunday semi-laugh or two at least. (I suspect we all could use one.) ITN tells us:
This (if we might say) apparently "veiled" attempt to market France by Wines of France of course has nothing to do with any desire to improve wine sales? For as Scotland on Sunday told us back in May:
Okay, we'll assume that, errr, nothing so capitalist could possibly be a motivation. Back to ITN:
Why not? All after, those are as good as any other perceived reasons. One can say whatever one likes. (And like lots of people, I happened to have liked "The Da Vinci Code", but certainly don't want to be French. Indeed, I think most of us like lots of films about non-American or non-British places, but that doesn't mean we want to be the nationality depicted in that film of the moment, or to live in whatever is its portrayed location.)
Actually, what that 83 percent who could name the Blackpool Tower really demonstrates is not ignorance, but actually how self-aware the British are. For even though Blackpool Tower is not so much an "international icon" as a British one (for example, most Americans would have heard of the various sights of London, but far fewer would ever have heard of Blackpool), it is supposed to be considered an equivalent to the Eiffel Tower?
And presumably the poll asked people within the UK who might never have been to Blackpool, but who might well have been to Paris? Similarly, how many Americans have been to Paris but never been to, say, Sioux Falls, South Dakota? And how many Brits might have been to Paris but never been to, say, Cardiff? (And let's just say that the 7 percent who'd apparently never heard even of the Eiffel Tower are probably not exactly . . . uh, well, to put it this way, the only views that might really matter are the other 7 percent, who'd at least heard of the Eiffel Tower but NOT of Blackpool's.) But, unsurprisingly, ITN doesn't see such as relevant.
So, making a comparison between the regional Blackpool Tower (height, 519 ft) and the Eiffel Tower (height 324 m, or 1062 ft, which makes the Eiffel twice the height of the Blackpool) strikes me as a lot like asking Americans in Illinois, Montana, Texas and Virginia this: What's the name of the eastern American structural bridge icon that is -- to stretch matters somewhat, but not that much -- the equivalent to San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge? Answer: Of course, as everyone knows, it's the Throgs Neck Bridge.
Again, the UK is far less influenced by London than the more centralized France is by Paris. And the Arc is a far more "internationally renowned" symbol than is Marble Arch. Yes, Londoners would surely have heard of it, but someone in Blackpool who might have never been to London, much less to Marble Arch itself?
Bottom line: if some broadcaster is going to use "a report" (in most other contexts, such "reports" are usually called advertising) to slam Britain, at least they ought to try to do so using honestly like for like comparisons.
Speaking of "like for like" comparisons. Willing to share with us the British equivalents to a French tower and arch, ITN for some reason did not offer a suggestion of Ms Tautou's female British equivalent.
However, this blog, and, especially, its vast number of sharp-minded readers, does not simply make demands without offering suggestions. That being the case, in the spirit of Sky's picture gallery on the story, so, Ms Tautou . . .
. . . is the French equivalent to __________________ of Britain? Feel free in the comments to nominate your choice. (Brave enough on many another front perhaps, on this serious issue I'm not willing to identify one without some support!) ¶ by Robert, Sunday, October 15, 2006
This story earlier in the week isn't important. But, still, it's worth reflecting upon -- for a Sunday semi-laugh or two at least. (I suspect we all could use one.) ITN tells us:
One in five Britons would prefer to have been born French thanks to the "Thierry Factor", according to a new report.
British residents are said to have been charmed by the rise of French celebrities such as Arsenal footballer Thierry Henry in the UK.
The love of French culture was revealed after more than 1,000 people were asked for their views on Europe, as part of the French Wines Week Report...
British residents are said to have been charmed by the rise of French celebrities such as Arsenal footballer Thierry Henry in the UK.
The love of French culture was revealed after more than 1,000 people were asked for their views on Europe, as part of the French Wines Week Report...
This (if we might say) apparently "veiled" attempt to market France by Wines of France of course has nothing to do with any desire to improve wine sales? For as Scotland on Sunday told us back in May:
WE HAVE been sozzled but now we may be saturated. After a spectacular 25 years of rising wine consumption in Britain, sales have now gone into decline...
Okay, we'll assume that, errr, nothing so capitalist could possibly be a motivation. Back to ITN:
...Nick Wall, editor of France magazine, said the "Thierry Factor" was a major influence in how Britons viewed the French.
Films such as The Da Vinci Code, starring Audrey Tautou and Jean Reno, as well as Russell Crowe's A Good Year, are said to have had an impact on the way we regard the country.
Films such as The Da Vinci Code, starring Audrey Tautou and Jean Reno, as well as Russell Crowe's A Good Year, are said to have had an impact on the way we regard the country.
Why not? All after, those are as good as any other perceived reasons. One can say whatever one likes. (And like lots of people, I happened to have liked "The Da Vinci Code", but certainly don't want to be French. Indeed, I think most of us like lots of films about non-American or non-British places, but that doesn't mean we want to be the nationality depicted in that film of the moment, or to live in whatever is its portrayed location.)
The report, which polled 1,010 adults across the UK this summer, showed Brits seemed to be more aware of French cultural and historic icons than their own ones.
While 93 per cent of British people could name the Eiffel Tower, only 83 per cent could identify Blackpool's equivalent.
While 93 per cent of British people could name the Eiffel Tower, only 83 per cent could identify Blackpool's equivalent.
Actually, what that 83 percent who could name the Blackpool Tower really demonstrates is not ignorance, but actually how self-aware the British are. For even though Blackpool Tower is not so much an "international icon" as a British one (for example, most Americans would have heard of the various sights of London, but far fewer would ever have heard of Blackpool), it is supposed to be considered an equivalent to the Eiffel Tower?
And presumably the poll asked people within the UK who might never have been to Blackpool, but who might well have been to Paris? Similarly, how many Americans have been to Paris but never been to, say, Sioux Falls, South Dakota? And how many Brits might have been to Paris but never been to, say, Cardiff? (And let's just say that the 7 percent who'd apparently never heard even of the Eiffel Tower are probably not exactly . . . uh, well, to put it this way, the only views that might really matter are the other 7 percent, who'd at least heard of the Eiffel Tower but NOT of Blackpool's.) But, unsurprisingly, ITN doesn't see such as relevant.
So, making a comparison between the regional Blackpool Tower (height, 519 ft) and the Eiffel Tower (height 324 m, or 1062 ft, which makes the Eiffel twice the height of the Blackpool) strikes me as a lot like asking Americans in Illinois, Montana, Texas and Virginia this: What's the name of the eastern American structural bridge icon that is -- to stretch matters somewhat, but not that much -- the equivalent to San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge? Answer: Of course, as everyone knows, it's the Throgs Neck Bridge.
And more people could name Paris' Arc de Triomphe (69 per cent) than London's Marble Arch (40 per cent).
Again, the UK is far less influenced by London than the more centralized France is by Paris. And the Arc is a far more "internationally renowned" symbol than is Marble Arch. Yes, Londoners would surely have heard of it, but someone in Blackpool who might have never been to London, much less to Marble Arch itself?
Bottom line: if some broadcaster is going to use "a report" (in most other contexts, such "reports" are usually called advertising) to slam Britain, at least they ought to try to do so using honestly like for like comparisons.
_____________________________
Speaking of "like for like" comparisons. Willing to share with us the British equivalents to a French tower and arch, ITN for some reason did not offer a suggestion of Ms Tautou's female British equivalent.
However, this blog, and, especially, its vast number of sharp-minded readers, does not simply make demands without offering suggestions. That being the case, in the spirit of Sky's picture gallery on the story, so, Ms Tautou . . .
. . . is the French equivalent to __________________ of Britain? Feel free in the comments to nominate your choice. (Brave enough on many another front perhaps, on this serious issue I'm not willing to identify one without some support!) ¶ by Robert, Sunday, October 15, 2006
