Transatlanticism

[StickyToffee]

This concept of Transatlanticism came attached to an advert for visitBritian.com, so not really sure it's even worthy of discussion, or is even a real thing.

But the Manifesto (a word that is used in Britain with benign associations, but in America is always preceded by "Communist" in the hearer's mind ) on the website I did find interesting, as I agree with and applaud the sentiments expressed:

"By invention our cultural landscape is a transatlantic blend of ideas and customs. And it has been the friction between these ideas that has yielded our most substantial innovations.

By the hands of our forefathers' fathers, it's our tradition of cultural improvisation that has helped foster our unique sense of identity.

Interpreting British culture, we pay homage to our Transatlantic origins and add new chapters to our cultural lineage.

As Transatlanticists we draw upon our Muse, Great Britain, and interpret her radiance through Art, Music, Film and whatever else we're inspired to create. We embrace her ineffable brilliance and celebrate her lasting impression upon our culture.

We are the Transatlanticists."

Now I don't really know, the site doesn't seem to explain in much detail, who the folks are who wrote the Manifesto, I'm thinking it includes Canadians as well as Americans, but I'm not totally sure.

Perhaps the ad exec at visitBritain wrote it for all I know.

But, whoever wrote it, I like what it acknowledges--that Over Here is a cultural extension of Over There. Since the end of WWII, there seems to have been an effort, among nameless suspects , to downplay the connection and origination of the North American culture directly to Britain.

It's true that many other nationalities have contributed to North America, and maybe it was time to explore that contribution for a while. But the structure of the life we live Over Here is British and we should never get too far away to remember that.

Personal example:

We stayed a night at a wonderfully restored castle in Scotland. The place had been just beautifully and thoughtfully redone and we had a fab time.

The Sitting Room, decorated with Persian carpets, wing chairs, dark wood panelling, crystal cut glass on the massive sideboard, put us in mind of a Virginia plantation house. Looked identical.

When speaking to the Lady of the castle the next morning, we commented on the similarity.

She smiled and told us that she'd bought all the furnishings at an auction in Williamsburg, VA! Had them transported back to Scotland.

That led to a discussion of the very thing the Transatlanticist Manifesto above acknowledges: the back-and-forth of cultural ideas that go even to furniture styles and decorating. How things like that have hopped and re-hopped the Pond ever since Englishmen first put foot to dirt on the banks of the James River.

It's sort of the same thing that MikeH's blog, Pond Parleys, discusses. We're all noticing it, a coming together of British, Canadian and American cultures.

As I wrote on Pond Parleys, I think we find each other kind of cute.

[Howard]

Indeed yes! to all you quote and to your commentary, StickyToffee.

There has been a collosal transAtlantic cross-fertilization thoroughout the centuries and decades -- think of how British rock musicians in the early '60s adopted various American popular music idiomata and then re-exported them back to North America to re-invigorate the music scene there, then back accross the Pond came new strains to influence our musicians, to and fro, to and fro.

Then there is the whole common language thing.  I'm not entirely convinced by the "separated by a common language" joke:  I think there is less difference between Standard British English and Standard American English than there is between certain regional dialects within this country (can you imagine a Cornishman talking in his own dialect to, say, a Glaswegian? -- I suspect they would have as much difficulty in comprehension as there would between a Spaniard and a Portuguese talking their own languages to each other!)  Much has been stated about the rise of the US in the last century, and the various factors that contributed to its overhauling Britain as the world power, but I often feel that the rôle of English as the world language -- English which was spread throughout the Empire -- was a significant contribution in the advancement of American commerce and American influence in the world.  The Brits had 'prepared the ground', as it were.

ever since Englishmen first put foot to dirt on the banks of the James River.

It's great to hear the voice of a proud Virginian here, StickyToffee! 

[Howard]

Manifesto (a word that is used in Britain with benign associations

I didn't realize that the word was a tricky one in the States!  Here, of course, all the political parties produce one  before elections to describe the policies and plans which they will implement if elected to power, and they act as an amusing check-list after they come to power -- it must be pretty rare for any government to live up to its manifesto (in any case, the manifesto promises are subsequently modified by successive Queen's Speeches to Paliament [as you know, the Queen has no hand in the writing of these speeches -- on these occasions she acts as a glove-puppet for the government of the day]).

One of the most famous manfestos (or notorious, I should say) was that of the Labour Party in 1983 which was described by a member of the party as "the longest suicide note in history"!  (Wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_longest_suicide_note_in_history ).

Another manifesto you might like to consider is that of the Official Monster Raving Looney Party:  you can peruse it at http://www.omrlp.com/index.php?page=manifestoproposals-1 .  Some good proposals there, I think!   

[Lotus Freak]

funny how the lady of the castle bought her furnishing from Williamsburg. I'm quite fond of the area and spent many a summer wandering around Colonial Williamsburg and Jamestown. You can't walk around there and not think of England. I realise Colonial Williamsburg is a ''replica'' of the old colony that once stood there but it just seems so traditionally English.

The fondness between Britain and her colonies is a lot like that of siblings. There are times when everyone gets along and little brother tries to emulate big brother and times when they find each other quarreling but in the end, it's the love and respect that each has for the other that keeps them bound, whether it's holding on to old traditions or embracing new ones.