#brittext

[barely-british]

Here we have a young Harry Styles wearing Jack Wills. Jack Wills is a clothing line aimed at college or 'University' students. I actually have a few sweatshirts and a pillow from this brand. They're all super comfy. 

[barely-british]

Here we have Harry Styles in what are known as "Wellies." Otherwise known as Wellington Boots, they are named after the first Duke of Wellington. The Hunter Boot company is the best known and most likely the most expensive seller of Wellies. Obviously, I have a pair. 

[barely-british]

British Formula One Racing Culture

       Among the nineteen FIA Formula One World Championship races, The British Grand Prix is one of the most anticipated. Currently being held at the Silverstone Circuit, the British Grand Prix is one of the oldest continuously staged Formula One World Championship races still being held to this day. The original circuit in Brooklands was damaged beyond repair by World War II and has since been abandoned. At the time, the new British circuits were being built on abandoned airfields, and Silverstone, which is located in Northamptonshire in central England, was one of those many circuits. Silverstone hosted its first race, the Royal Automobile Club International Grand Prix on October 2, 1948. This race was won by an Italian, Luigi Villoresi, in a Maserati. Aftering being greatly modified to be unbelievably fast in 1949, it remained this way for years to come. In 1950, the Formula One Championship was introduced and the British Grand Prix was the first Formula One race ever held with new regulations. King George VI was in the crowd when Alfa Romeo driver Giuseppe “Nino” Farina took home first place.

      Jenson Alexander Lyons Button was born on January 19, 1980. Jenson began karting at the age of eight and after achieving early success, he made his way to racing in the British Formula Ford Championship and the British Formula Three Championship. His first Formula One was with Williams F1 for the 2000 racing season. After being switched to Benetton in 2001, which became Renault in 2002, he then switched to BAR in 2003. After 113 races, when BAR was renamed Honda during the 2006 season, Jenson won his first Grand Prix in Hungary. After Honda withdrawaled from the sport in December of 2008, Jenson was unable to drive for the 2009 season.  Ross Brawn directed a management buyout of the Honda team in 2009 and Jenson was able to get back behind the wheel of a Mercedes-engined car. After winning six of his first seven races in 2009, he was able to secure the Brazilian Grand Prix and the World Constructors’ Championship due to having led on points throughout the season. During the 2010 season, Jenson moved to Mclaren and partnered with another fellow British racer and World Champion known as Lewis Hamilton. Jenson finished in fifth place for the team in 2010 and finished the 2011 season as runner-up. In 2012 came the first pole for Mclaren in Belgium. With a total of 15 wins and 50 podiums out of 250 races, Jenson was named “Man of the Year” by Top Gear. During this 2014 season, he is currently still signed to Mclaren.

       One of my personal favorites, Lewis Carl Davidson Hamilton, was born on January 7, 1985. He was born in Stevenage, Hertfordshire and at the age of 13 was signed by Mclaren and Mercedes-Benz for their Young Driver Support Program. This was after he’d approached Ron Dennis, the team principal of Mclaren, at the age of 10 stating, “I want to race for you one day...I want to race for Mclaren.” Winning the British Formula Renault, Formula Three Enroseries, and GP2, Lewis continued to climb his way up the career ladder. He’d come from a mixed background, a black father and a white mother, and he is often referred to as the first black driver in Formula One. He is the first black man with African heritage to win a major race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. During his very first season in Formula One, he was able to set many records and went on to win the World Championship in 2008.

       Racing has always been a huge part of my life. My father has always loved anything to do with cars, and he has passed that love down to myself and my brother as well. As I child, my dad would take my brother and I out to the race track because he used to be a driving instructor. One year, we were even able to go to the Indianapolis 500 race. My dad taught me how to drive when I was around 8 and I swear it’s in my blood. Ever since I can remember, I would wake up on the weekend and go downstairs to see waffles for breakfast and the TV on a Formula One race. Once Lewis Hamilton started racing, and seeing that he is known as the first black driver in Formula One, my father made it a point to watch every single one of his races. It’s important to him that my brother and I witness this huge part of racing history. To me, racing means freedom and as a teen girl, that’s something I love. Even though I don’t have a permit,  I am able to go out to the track and take a few quick laps. Pushing speeds of 90 miles per hours is a feeling that I can’t even begin be explained.

[barely-british]

One of my favorite movies of all time is The Devil Wears Prada. But actually, who still wears Prada? Gross. Anyway, this is Anna Wintour. She's is the British editor-in-chief of American Vogue and is know for being a cold-hearted, ruthless boss. She's literally perfect. The movie The Devil Wears Prada is supposably based off of what is was like to work with her. When I'm an adult I want to be feared and loved just as much as her. She demands respect and doesn't care about other people's opinion. After all, she is the editor-in-chief of Vogue. Who wouldn't want to be her?  

[barely-british]

Original Untitled Poetic Justice

I was birthed from the rain 

falling from the sky

and 

pounding on the pavement 

I lay  like mud,

gushing

As I stood, my hair dripped 

and 

the sky stopped crying

____________________________________________________

When I was an electric box 

I knew how to shock 

I knew how to light up a room 

I knew peopled liked to push my buttons 

and use me only when needed 

I knew they'd leave me

alone 

I would become dark and dusty

But what I haven't told you yet 

is I have to go back to yesterday...

or was it today? Tomorrow? 

Shock. 

___________________________________________________

If imagination was an apple

that fell from a tree

and landed on the ground,

then society is the tree.

Neutering the apple

until it becomes different from the rest,

until it has gone bad,

rotten. 

The apples falls,

quickly,

being cut off 

in fear of 

challenging 

societies ideas.

They can't have rebellion,

or questioning. 

Rather have sweet golden delicious than 

Sour granny smith. 

[barely-british]

My Entire Life's Story as Seen On My Mad Fat Diary

        Author Rae Earl’s “My Mad Fat Teenage Diary” has been adapted into a popular British comedy-drama television series, known as My Mad Fat Diary, that debuted on E4 on January 14, 2013. The show follows Rae Earl, a 16-year-old girl, who spent four months in a psychiatric hospital. She struggles to return to reality, hiding her mental health and body image problems from her new friends, Chloe Harris, Finn Nelson, Archie, and Chop. In this blog entry, I will be coming to terms with what a few characters mean to me and how they relate to British society.

        Chloe Harris is Rae’s best gal pal in the TV series. She’s pretty, skinny, and somewhat likable. Rae’s friendship with Chloe is hot and cold during the first series, but by the end, Rae sees that she would miss Chloe if anything were ever to happen to her. Chloe doesn’t seem to understand any of Rae’s physical or psychological problems and compare her somewhat insignificant problems to her own. An example of this would be when she claims to feel the same way that Rae feels when people look at her when she walks into a room. This would have to be impossible, seeing as Chloe is a skinny and attractive girl while Rae weighs sixteen and a half stone. All throughout the first series, Chloe is able to learn more about Rae’s condition and becomes more empathetic and kind about her situation. Rae struggles to be around Chloe, afraid of being compared to her “slight but curvy” body and her “gravity-defying boobs.” Although Rae is able to win over the affections of the boys in the end, she still struggles to accept the fact that anyone would choose her over Chloe.

        Finn Nelson is one of Rae’s constant love interests throughout the series. Introduced as a bad boy, who knows he’s hot and takes full advantage of it, he initially seems rude and intolerable. As the series goes on, Finn’s attitude begins to change for the better. Finn defends Rae against a bunch of bullies by punching the leader, then proceeds to ask Rae if she's okay. This is when Rae decides that she truly does have feelings for Finn. They became close friends and created a crazy method of communication where they use their fingers to trace letters on each other. In the final episode of series one, Finn tells Rae that he loves her by tracing it on her back in their secret language. By the start of season two, their relationship becomes official until Rae realizes she is embarrassed for Finn to be seen around her and ends their relationship. Finn tries desperately to win her back, but Rae’s too stubborn and refuses to get back together with him.

        Finally, we have Rae. After being released from a psychiatric ward, she runs into a group of kids and eventually becomes a part of their ‘gang.’ She struggles with her weight all throughout the series, and it becomes clear that she has suffered from psychological problems and an eating disorder, binging. Her therapist, Kester, attempts to help her through tough situations but knowing Rae, she’d rather handle her problems alone. As Rae’s feelings for the gang flip flop throughout the season, she is able to reflect on her sense of self and her place in the group. The two major problems for Rae in the series are these: her discovery of sex, love and friendship and her weight and physiological problems.

        When Jocelyn showed me this show, it was like I’d started watching a recording of my entire life. Not that I’ve been committed to a psychiatric ward before but I have been overweight for almost my entire life. Finding people who accept you, for who you are, not to mention finding a guy who actually likes you, is pretty much the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do in my life. Rae gives me hope that there are people in the world like me. There are people in the world who are able to find happiness and peace. There are people willing to support me and love me for who I am. I mean sure, Finn is HELLA attractive but he’s also an honest guy. He care’s about Rae. He doesn’t mind being seen with her in public. He’s not embarrassed of her. That’s what I want. Someone who’s not embarrassed to be seen with me. So who knows, maybe I’ll find someone or maybe I’ll be stuck alone watching illegal British television shows for the rest of my life. Either way, as long as I'm happy, that's all that matters to me. 

[barely-british]

British Actors in American Film and Television

            Born into a show business family, Freddie Highmore came into the world on February 14, 1992. Sue Latimer, his mother, is a talent agent whose manages actors such as Imelda Staunton and Daniel Radcliffe. At the age of seven, Freddie started to land small roles on TV. He played the son of a woman who’d recently broken up with her commitment-phobic French lover in Women Talking Dirty as his acting debut. After playing a young King Arthur in the TV miniseries, The Mists of Avalon, he landed another TV miniseries spot, Happy Birthday Shakespeare, Where he played the son of a tour bus driver. In 2004, Freddie’s breakthrough, critically acclaimed, performance as Peter Llewelyn Davies in Finding Neverland received several nominations and awards.  He landed the main role of Charlie Bucket in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory in 2005 after being recommended for the role by Johnny Depp, who had also starred in Finding Neverland and was impressed by Freddie’s performance. In 2012, A&E announced that he would play the starring role of Norman Bates in the series, Bates Motel, which is a prequel to Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho. The show tells the storyline in the present day. After being debuted in March of 2013 and receiving praise from critics everywhere, it was renewed for a second season. Freddie has also done a few voiceover roles, including Astro Boy in the animated film Astro Boy.

            On June 13, 1990, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, an English actor, was born in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, England. Beginning acting at the age of six, Aaron landed the starring role in The Thief Lord. In 1999 he played the lead role in Macbeth, while in 2000 he starred in All My Sons. In 2009, Aaron received the lead role as John Lennon in the 2009 biopic, Nowhere Boy. 2010 brought one of his more famous roles as Dave Lizewski in Kick-Ass. In 2012, he played Count Vronsky in Anna Karenina.  Aaron will also star in the upcoming Godzilla remake, which should be released in May of 2014. He will also play Quicksilver, come 2015, in 2015's Avengers: Age of Ultron.

           Daniel Sharman was born April 25, 1986 in Hackney, London. At the age of 9, Daniel began his acting career by auditioning for the Royal Shakespeare Company. He stayed with the company for 2 plays and later returned to the company, participating in the touring play The Winslow Boy in 2002 at the age of 16. Daniel landed his first major recurring television role as the Beta werewolf, Isaac Lahey, in season 2 of MTV’s critically acclaimed drama series, Teen Wolf. He’s become a regular character in season 3 and producer Jeff Davis has stated that there will be more screen time for Daniel in the coming episodes.

           All of these actors have quite a few things in common. For one, they’re all British. Secondly, all of their breakout roles have been in American film or television. For me, I’ve claimed to be ‘in love’ with each and every one of these amazing actors. They portray British men as classy, eloquent, and kind men. These are the men that women actually want to date, not some immature, stuck up, and arrogant American boy. I mean, after all, who wouldn’t want to date a British werewolf or a teenage serial killer?

[barely-british]

A Blast From the Past

            In 2002, High Green formed an English indie rock band called Arctic Monkeys. Consisting of Alex Turner, Jamie Cook, Nick O’Malley, and Matt Helders, the band has released a total of five studio albums and one live album. Becoming the fastest-selling debut album in British history, the Arctic Monkeys surpassed Elastica’s album and is still the fastest selling album by a group in the United Kingdom to date. They have won seven Brit Awards and were nominated twice for a Grammy. In 2006, the Arctic Monkeys won the Mercury Prize for their debut album. The Arctic Monkeys are known as the first band to step into the public eye via the Internet. Critics suggest that they are responsible for the change in ways in which new acts are discovered on the Internet. The Arctic Monkeys are viewed as one of the most prominent bands that are a part of the post-punk revival in the United Kingdom. This is due to their commercial successes overseas starting with their two number one singles on their debut albums.

            Everyone knows the Beatles. Formed in Liverpool, in 1960, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr made up the English rock band known as the greatest and most influential of all time. After exploring the 1950s rock and roll, skiffle, and beat genres, the Beatles later decided to experiment with other music genres. In the 1960s, their popularity became known as “Beatlemania.” Their songwriting became more sophisticated as they were deemed the personification of the ideals shared by those apart of the rock revolution. Building their reputation by playing in clubs in Hamburg and Liverpool, their manager, Brian Epstein, turned them into a professional act while their producer, George Martin, brought out their music potential. After their first hit, “Love Me Do,” gained popularity in 1962, they received their famous nickname, the “Fab Four.”  Becoming international stars, they led the “British Invasion” into United States pop culture. Critics say that the Beatles produced their best material from 1965 and on, including many influential and innovative albums. After breaking up in 1970, they all had successful solo music careers. John Lennon was shot and died in 1980 and George Harrison died of lung cancer in November of 2001, while Ringo Starr and Paul McCartney still remain alive with successful music careers.

            To some, the Arctic Monkeys are known as the Beatles of our generation. In a sense, this is true. The front man of the band, Alex Turner, has said on numerous occasions that he doesn’t mind being compared to the Beatles. But after all, who would? The Beatles were one of the greatest bands of all time. They not only changed the world of music but they managed to change the actually world. The Arctic Monkeys were able to revive the rock genre of music and get a younger generation interested, which is very important because after all, our generation is the feature.