janstett
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I caught the premiere of "America at a Crossroads: The Anti-Americans (a hate/love relationship)" just now on PBS. They spend a good 20 minutes of this episode on the British view of America (the first 15-20 minutes I caught discussed Poland's relationship with America; and apparently I just missed France) and it helps to answer some of the questions most Americans don't understand as far as Europe, and Britain's specifically, and Top Gear's even more specifically, hatred.
http://www.pbs.org/weta/crossroads/about/show_anti-americans.html
It's much more complex than simple patriotism or national pride. To sum it up:
- Britain has a hard time getting over the loss of its empire and Brits have an inferiority complex towards Americans, they don't like that they are so far below the US on the world's stage; any chance they have to make themselves feel superior to Americans is therefore relished to soothe their inferiority complex.
- As an outgrowth of this, they are OBSESSED with the freaks and outcasts of American society. Think about the Alabama incident in series 9's visit to America. I was kind of shocked to see film footage of BBC presenters travelling to America in the 1970s salivating with glee to talk to UFO conspiracy nuts and in the 80's to talk to some freakish gun cult. In light of this, I visualized Clarkson in the stead of his 1970's counterpart; Clarkson suddenly didn't seem very innovative; in fact he was following a long line of BBC precedent. Now, thinking back through Clarkson's videos over the years, the picture becomes sharply focused; that's why you'll never see New York City or Los Angeles or anything good on film. That's why you'll see staged hillbillies and gangbangers and idiots on the streets of Las Vegas. That's why they go to New Orleans to prey on the underbelly of that city's misery. That's why they go to Detroit to show the abandoned houses. Given that, I must applaud the team for bothering to show anything worthwhile or give America any credit at all (e.g. 60's muscle cars, SR-71, Shuttle).
- In general, they are simultaneously enthralled with America, and incredibly frightened of what they see and don't like. Part of it is snobbery of the intellectuals thinking only they or their ilk should have a public voice, but at large they think Americans are a bunch of clowns running around not knowing what they are doing; and some nauseating examples (Jerry Springer, Paris Hilton) reinforce this horror. George W. Bush's perceived bumbling incompetance and inarticulate mannerisms (which I maintain are a facade but I'll leave for another discussion) plays into that fear.
- They rail against anything American, yet ironically their lives are PERMEATED with American influence; in many ways they are criticising themselves. (Haven't we always said Clarkson is an American?) They are innundated with a lot of American TV programs and American culture/coprorations in their daily lives.
- They are simultaneously disgusted by, and enamored of, the ability of anyone here to say whatever they want, no matter how stupid or uninformed. In proper British society, one doesn't just speak up.
- They feel, at the bottom of it all, that they CREATED the US and therefore by proxy are still running the show. They subconsciously take credit for everything American. Consequently they maintain a view of the world wherein they created everything (very Clarksonesque, no?)
I highly recommend the show; it was almost like having a therapy session with Jeremy and getting inside his head. I found it very interesting on a non-Top Gear level as well.
http://www.pbs.org/weta/crossroads/about/show_anti-americans.html
It's much more complex than simple patriotism or national pride. To sum it up:
- Britain has a hard time getting over the loss of its empire and Brits have an inferiority complex towards Americans, they don't like that they are so far below the US on the world's stage; any chance they have to make themselves feel superior to Americans is therefore relished to soothe their inferiority complex.
- As an outgrowth of this, they are OBSESSED with the freaks and outcasts of American society. Think about the Alabama incident in series 9's visit to America. I was kind of shocked to see film footage of BBC presenters travelling to America in the 1970s salivating with glee to talk to UFO conspiracy nuts and in the 80's to talk to some freakish gun cult. In light of this, I visualized Clarkson in the stead of his 1970's counterpart; Clarkson suddenly didn't seem very innovative; in fact he was following a long line of BBC precedent. Now, thinking back through Clarkson's videos over the years, the picture becomes sharply focused; that's why you'll never see New York City or Los Angeles or anything good on film. That's why you'll see staged hillbillies and gangbangers and idiots on the streets of Las Vegas. That's why they go to New Orleans to prey on the underbelly of that city's misery. That's why they go to Detroit to show the abandoned houses. Given that, I must applaud the team for bothering to show anything worthwhile or give America any credit at all (e.g. 60's muscle cars, SR-71, Shuttle).
- In general, they are simultaneously enthralled with America, and incredibly frightened of what they see and don't like. Part of it is snobbery of the intellectuals thinking only they or their ilk should have a public voice, but at large they think Americans are a bunch of clowns running around not knowing what they are doing; and some nauseating examples (Jerry Springer, Paris Hilton) reinforce this horror. George W. Bush's perceived bumbling incompetance and inarticulate mannerisms (which I maintain are a facade but I'll leave for another discussion) plays into that fear.
- They rail against anything American, yet ironically their lives are PERMEATED with American influence; in many ways they are criticising themselves. (Haven't we always said Clarkson is an American?) They are innundated with a lot of American TV programs and American culture/coprorations in their daily lives.
- They are simultaneously disgusted by, and enamored of, the ability of anyone here to say whatever they want, no matter how stupid or uninformed. In proper British society, one doesn't just speak up.
- They feel, at the bottom of it all, that they CREATED the US and therefore by proxy are still running the show. They subconsciously take credit for everything American. Consequently they maintain a view of the world wherein they created everything (very Clarksonesque, no?)
I highly recommend the show; it was almost like having a therapy session with Jeremy and getting inside his head. I found it very interesting on a non-Top Gear level as well.
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*leaves thread...*
