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So, a list of authors plus (curiously) a fictional character.
Let’s start with Shakespeare. He was undeniably English, there’s no getting away from that, but most of his plays were set in continental Europe. On the other hand, Arthur Conan Doyle was Scottish, as was Dr. Joseph Bell, the inspiration for Sherlock Holmes, which fictional character in turn had a French grandmother.
The truth is that England is historically and culturally intertwined with other countries, especially those on the European continent. And if you are of a certain age, then there’s a fair chance you spent more time at school studying the European ancient world and its languages than Britain and English. Further, Classics (Greats) was traditionally more prestigious than English Lit. at university (NB BJ & references to Carthage etc.) And I could go on (e.g., Neoclassical architecture, or Shelley, Byron and the “Grand Tour”, blah blah).
This is not to say that England has no culture of its own. It does. However, it’s one that is not easily separated from (especially) European culture or defined ( a list of English authors is not a satisfactory definition of English culture).
Even the English language itself is an amalgam of Germanic relics, of Old French, Latin, Greek and much more with locally coined additions thrown in. Art, architecture, science, language, philosophy, religion, the lot has drawn from and been inspired by foreign contributions and, in turn, has inspired people elsewhere.
The trouble - or a trouble - with nationalism is that it tends towards a reduced view of the world and does not fully acknowledge the interplay between countries. In its most crude form it leads to a sort of blindness to the complexity of the world.
To finish up: on occasion I’m inclined to think English culture is (paradoxically and as I would prefer it) defined by its opposition to the idea of a defined national culture. Therefore, the very act of trying to define it is, in a way, an act of cultural self-destruction.
And I would like to think of England as post-national. Really, what matters ultimately is not some idea about nationhood but what you can do, what you add to the world that is new and great. If some notion of Englishness acts as positive inspiration, then fine, but it’s that, your contribution, that matters the most.
Anyway, my apologies if that’s a bit crass. As a scientist I’ve always been somewhat conscious that I’m a bit unpolished and essays aren’t my thing. |
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Author: nabby
26-11-2019 01:20:32