Rosa resmi

How is British culture represented in The Holiday and

Notting Hill

In a modern world society that is dominated by the media different people

are represented in different ways. The media has the power to shape
ideologies and stereotypes of people from different origins, religions, and
races. They do this through movies, articles, and even the news. For
example when Muslims are represented in movies they represent them as
terriosts, because the media has portrayed them that way for some time.
This ideology of them is obviously not always true, but the idea of the
culture is then shaped for viewers.
The media also uses stereotypes in films and TV programs to help viewers
understand the characters traits and characteristics. An example of this is
Americans. They are often represented as loud, obnoxious, and
overweight. However this is obviously not going to be the case for such a
vast country with a large population. But again the media use these
stereotypes to help viewers understand the characters traits and
characteristics. For example normally in a film when characters are quite
rude and sarcastic you would expect them to be American, and they
usually are. In contrast British people are often displayed as polite,
awkward and well spoken.
Often in films British characters are represented similarly, British
characters offer their guests a cup of tea. They are usually always
represented as polite and well spoken. However this is obviously not
always the case, as our country is highly populated and not everyone is
going to have a posh accent, or necessarily like tea that much. However
most Americans would believe this, as all they may know of British people
would be what they have seen in films or TV programs. Therefore leading
Americans to have these ideologies of British people that in some cases
are completely false.
British romantic comedies are a successful hybrid genre not only do these
films have captivating storylines, but they also include our British
ideologies and values. From making a pot of tea anytime someone comes
over. To our posh dialects, and our love for fish and chips. British movies
captivate these stereotypes perfectly. Two films that include these
stereotypes and genetic conventions are Notting Hill and The Holiday.
Notting Hill directed by Roger Mitchell released 1999 is a romantic comedy
about an American actress and a British travel book shop owner falling in

love, and trying to work out a relationship. However in the climax their
completely different lifestyles come between them. In this film we have
the traditional joker to lighten the mood and make the romantic comedy
more of a comedy. This character is clumsy lazy and full of jokes, and is
played by Rhys Ifan. As well as the two love interests played by Julia
Roberts and Hugh Grant. And of course Hugh grant plays the well-spoken,
polite British character. Whereas Julia Roberts plays the straight up,
genuine, sarcastic American.
The other film that fits the general British rom com is The Holiday
directed by Nancy Meyers and released in 2006. This Romantic Comedy is
about an emotional British woman who is one of the main protagonists in
the movie. Her name is Iris and she is played by Kate Winslet. Who is still
madly in love with her now engaged ex-boyfriend. As well an American
woman who is another main protagonist, her name is Amanda, and is
played by Cameron Diaz. Her character is completely opposite to Iris, she
has a wealthy and glamorous lifestyle. After her boyfriend cheated on her
she was very unemotional and strong, although she was stressed about
her relationship and work. She then decides to go on holiday for the first
time somewhere tranquil and peaceful, and decides on Britain. Amanda
finds Iriss small cottage and decides to stay there. They get in touch and
Iris suggests that they do a house swap, so she can escape her now
depressing life. So both characters fly out to each others house and find a
love interest whilst staying there.
Both films include generic conventions of a British romantic comedy. We
can see this because in romantic comedies there is normally a funny and
sarcastic character to make the romantic comedy more humorous. In The
Holiday we can see this convention in Miles although he is love interest in
the movie he is still quite comedic, for example when Miles plays the star
wars song as a joke for Arthurs entrance song. He adds a bit of humour to
the film. This character in Notting Hill is called Spike (played by Rhys Ifan)
he is clumsy lazy and full of jokes, and always lightens the mood. An
example of when spike provides comedic relief is when the press have
discovered Anna has been with William, and all of the paparazzi are
outside. Spike goes out to the press in his underwear posing. This again
adds to the humour of the movie and perfectly fits into the generic
conventions of a British rom com.
In Both films Americans are represented as a higher class. For example in
The Holiday this difference in class is shown. For example Amanda and
Iris, both have quite comfortable lifestyles in their own way. But the
American middle class is much more luxurious than the British middle
class. This could be because the British middle class have more of a focus

on literature and education rather than wealth. Whereas in America their

classes are more determined on how much money you have. They
juxtapose Amanda and Iriss house in the film this helps the viewers see
the difference in classes. For example when Iris arrives at Amandas
house, she is so shocked and excited about the luxuries Amandas house
has. Whereas to the other Americans in the movie that visit Amandas
house see it as standard, for example Miles and Arthur. Also as soon as Iris
gets to Amandas house the first thing she does is go swimming in the
pool and straight after she goes to use the massive TV Amanda has. In
contrast Amanda is quite disappointed with the size of Iriss cottage. We
can see this because the first thing she does when she gets to the house
is leaves the house to buy loads of wine and food, rather than exploring
and having fun in the house like Iris.

The differences in American and British classes are also shown in Notting
Hill. We can see the British base their class more on education, and the
way people dress and act. Rather than how luxurious cars and houses are.
For example Williams character, although his flat isnt very luxiourious. He
very well mannered, well spoken and educated. These qualities show he
has a middle class background.
In The Holiday we can clearly see that Kate Winslet is a British character
not only because of the fact that she works for the telegraph (a British
newspaper) and that she lives in a small cottage. But throughout the film
she also has a posh dialect and is quite polite. She also uses words like
whopping, oh dear and of course asks throughout the movie if another
character would like a cup of tea. These are all typical ideologies of the
British. Also throughout the film says to people how do you do. Whereas
the American characters would simply say how you. In Notting Hill we can
also tell the British characters apart from the American as they have the
same ideologies, they are again polite well-spoken and use many of the
typical British words. Like bugger, fancy, git bullocks, sod,
splendid, whoopsi daisies, and they also use the phrase just across
the street whereas Americans would say just round the block. As well as
using all of these British words they also have the ideology that anything
can be solved with a cup of tea. Throughout the movies when anyone is
upset for example in Notting Hill when Anna is upset about her job and
lifestyle clashing William offers her a cup of tea. This ideology is again
repeated in The Holiday when Miles is upset about his girlfriend cheating
on him. Iris offers him a cup of tea. This makes the ideology that British
peoples problems cant be that major if they automatically feel better with
a cup of tea. A very well-known ideology of the British is shown in the

scene when Anna and William are having dinner and they overhear people
talking horribly about Anna. Of course as William is British he confronts
them quite politely whereas Anna the American character is quite
sarcastic and rude towards them. Therefore showing the ideology that
Americans are quite rude and blunt in contrast British are seen as polite
and well spoken. Another generic convention in rom coms is when the
couple actually meets. This is seen in Notting Hill and The Holiday. For
example in The Holiday when Iris has a romantic scene with Miles and
they are chatting for the first time, whilst the wind is blowing in her hair.
Shows the romantic part of the scene. It then gets ruined when an eyelash
gets in her eye, adding the bit of comedy. This is also shown in Notting Hill
when Anna first walks into the book shop and William first sees her he has
a romantic moment. Then it gets ruined when someone tries to steal a
book from his shop but is not discreet about it at all. William and Anna
then see him trying to steal the book talk to him and get him to give the
book back adding the bit of comedy.
Mise en scene is shown in both films. For example throughout Notting Hill
in the setting there is a pub, a red double decker bus a telephone box. As
well as a red mail box, all things Britain are known for. Another Mise en
scene is shown in the first scene of the movie, when William is walking
through London. There are lots of markets full of stalls with newspapers
and antiques. This is another thing Britain is known for. Also throughout
Notting Hill and the Holiday famous British landmarks are mentioned like
the Ritz, Covent Garden as well as Oxford Circus. In contrast in The
Holiday when America is shown their streets are much plainer than
Britains there are not as many shops, nor as many cars, and theirs not as
many people walking down the street. This could be because Britain is
overpopulated and therefore have more shops, and houses than America
might have. They juxtapose this throughout The Holiday when they switch
between Amanda in England and Iris in America.
Throughout The Holiday and Notting Hill there are many diegetic as well
as non-diegetic sounds shown as well as many camera angles. For
example throughout the film when the characters are speaking non
diegetic sound is shown. In contrast diegetic sound is shown when music
is played in the background or when the narrator is speaking in the
background. Music and camera angles in both movies are used to help
show the characters mood for example in The Holiday when Iris is upset
have yourself a merry little Christmas is played which is a slow song sad
song. Also the camera angle is a close up. This shows the audience she is
heartbroken and an emotional. In the movie they junxtoupous this in the
intro, because Amanda the unemotional American character has more fast
upbeat melody playing in the background when she breaks up with her

boyfriend. This helps us see how much more unemotional she is than Iris.
This all relates to the ideology that British are more emotional than
Americans.
There are many British ideologies shown throughout both films. For
example in both films all the British characters are quite close to their
family. We can see this In The Holiday when Iriss brother comes round her
house and yells from outside Iris open the door or Im going to leak on
your porch. He is then surprised when he sees Amanda there and says
youre not iris. This shows how close Iris and her brother are, because
they normally use informal language towards each other. Also in the
movie they call each other talking about the house swap and Iris says l
can't believe you had sex with Amanda! The one thing she asked me was,
''Are there any men in your town?'' l assured her that there were not. Then
you meet her and immediately get into her knickers! This again shows
that they usually use informal language towards each other. This ideology
is shown again in the Holiday is when Iriss brother makes sure Amanda
meets his kids. This shows how close he is with his kids because he wants
to make sure Amanda and his kids get along well before they start getting
into a serious relationship. And this ideology of family is shown once more
in the film when they are all together at Christmas dancing and laughing
together.
The ideology that British characters are quite close to their family is
shown in Notting hill also. For example When William is with Anna he
ensures that he goes to his sisters birthday party even though he is with
a movie star. So he brings Anna to the birthday party with him. They all
laugh and joke together which again shows that the ideology that British
people are close to family.

Another ideology shown in The Holiday is that the British are kind with
their neighbours. In contrast Americans are not as close with their
neighbours. We can see this in the film when Iris is in America and sees
Arthur struggling to get home. So she decides to help him get home and is
extremely kind to him, whereas the other Americans walk past him and
dont really notice him. Iris then visits him again, to ensure he is okay. This
shows how much more caring Iris is compared to Arthurs usual
neighbours. This all links to the ideology that the British are closer with
their neighbours than Americans are.
Overall from both movies I can see how much the media stereotype,
distort and create ideologies of cultures and beliefs. I think this can have a
positive but mostly negative impact on society. One positive effect would

be that it can be used in films and programs to help viewers understand a

characters traits and characteristics. For example as soon as a British
character is seen they are most likely to be seen as polite and posh.
However the negative effects outweigh the positive effects. For example it
could cause racism towards people of different backgrounds, which could
lead to bullying of people from a certain race or religion.