Britishness can be understood in various ways and means different things to different people. It involves embracing both traditional symbols of British culture like the royal family as well as modern aspects of British life. Some see Britishness as represented more by images of royalty, while others see it as also including social unrest and protests. Understanding Britishness today requires considering both passive audiences who accept dominant views as well as active audiences who negotiate or oppose them through their own interpretations.

1. What is Britishness?
LO: To understand what
Britishness means today and to
develop debating skills
Level 4: Explanation/Analysis/Argument:
Make connections to present a coherent argument and offer
Informed personal engagement with issues and debates

2. What is
Britishness?

3. Britishness…
• http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/7469
172.stm

4. Union Jack Girl © Still Pictures/Duncan Walker

5. Big Ben © iStockphoto.com/Steven Allan

6. Queen Elizabeth, Visit to Leicester by Flickr user kev747 and licensed for reuse under the Creative Commons
Licence.

7. © Getty images/Doug Menuez

8. Olympic parade – Tasha Danvers by Flickr user Richard Parmiter and licensed for reuse under the Creative Commons Licence.

9. Cycling in the Lake District ©iStockphoto.com/David Chadwick

10. © Getty images/Scott Barbour

11. Walking in the rain by Flickr user Denni Schnapp and licensed for reuse under the Creative Commons Licence.

12. Fish ‘n’ chips at the Severnshed by Flickr user ordinaryfool and licensed for reuse under the Creative Commons Licence.

13. Queen’s Guard by Flickr user Josie Fraser and licensed for reuse under the Creative
Commons Licence.

14. Or is there more to
it than that?...
Union Jack by Flickr user bambi851 and licensed for reuse under the Creative Commons Licence.

15. Image © Jonathan Brunert, producer BBC Panorama

16. © Getty images/Tom Stoddard

17. What is your interpretation of
Britishness today?
• You have 10 minutes
to find 5 images that
sum up what you
think Britishness
means today…
Level 4:
Explanation/Analysis/Argument:
Make connections to present a
coherent argument and offer
Informed personal engagement
with issues and debates

18. ONE WORD to define it…

19. Stuart Hall Reception Theory
• Passive vs Active • Preferred/dominant
audience
• Negotiated
• Oppositional

20. What is Britishness?
LO: To understand what Britishness means
today and to develop analysis skills
Level 4: Explanation/Analysis/Argument:
Make connections to present a coherent argument and offer
Informed personal engagement with issues and debates

21. ROYALS vs RIOTS
• Which are we? • Become an active
audience!
Level 4: Explanation/Analysis/Argument:
Make connections to present a coherent argument and offer
Informed personal engagement with issues and debates

22. Whose winning the debate?
• Move forward: • Move back:
• 1 step – if you agree/think • 1 step – if you disagree
it’s a good point with their point
• 2 steps – if they mention • 2 step – if they make a
any stats/research info point and don’t use
• 3 steps – if they link to evidence
theory • 3 step – if one member
doesn’t contribute
anything

23. Are we royals or rioters?
• Level 4:
Explanation/Analysis/Argument: What do you think at the
moment?
• Make connections to present a
coherent argument and offer
• Informed personal engagement
with issues and debates
• Answer this question consolidating what you
have learnt today…include Stuart Hall’s
theory
• Level 3 – passive vs active audience
• Level 4 – negotiated, preferred, oppositional
responses

24. Are we royals or rioters?
• Level 4:
Explanation/Analysis/Argument: What do you think at the
moment?
• Make connections to present a
coherent argument and offer
• Informed personal engagement
with issues and debates
• Point: I think Britain is represented as royals more than rioters.
• Evidence: During the royal wedding, people all over the country had
street parties, over 5, 500 according to guardian.co.uk.
• Explain: This connotes a sense of unity in Britain and represents
British people as patriotic because they support the royal family.

25. Are we royals or rioters?
What do you think NOW?
• Level 4: Explanation/Analysis/Argument:
• Make connections to present a coherent argument and
offer
• Informed personal engagement with issues and debates
Peer assess answers…
Read each other’s – is it level 4?

26. How did you meet today’s LO?
What is Britishness?
LO: To understand what
Britishness means today and to
develop analysis skills
Level 4: Explanation/Analysis/Argument:
Make connections to present a coherent argument and offer
Informed personal engagement with issues and debates

27. Britishness in film
• For homework:
• Analyse two British film trailers, and compare
their representations of BRITISHNESS…
• Back up your answers using specific micro
evidence
• Why do you think they are
different/similar?
Level 4: Explanation/Analysis/Argument:
Make connections to present a coherent argument and offer
Informed personal engagement with issues and debates