Week 2 Impressions by Ian Feis

Up until late last night I had every intention of writing my current impressions of British culture on the spectacle that is Harrod’s. However, after last night, there is no way I cannot write on my newfound obsession with British television. While sitting in bed pondering when I would muster up the energy to write my blog, I stumbled upon a show that literally sent some girls on my floor into an uproar…The Joy of Teen Sex. It is not difficult, from the title, to extrapolate what this show is about. Even for the most liberal of minds this show is a little unsettling, but I think that’s because during the day, British public television is saturated with shows that have themes like: look at all the old shit I keep in my house and now want to sell, antiquing competitions, and the pride of antiquing. This show exists to combat Britain’s high rates of teenage pregnancies and the occurrence of sexually transmitted infections by teaching teenagers safety strategies and celebrating sexuality. I think the existence of this show highlights a different method, and possibly priority system, for trying to combat social and health problems in the UK than in the States. For example, our government sponsored sexual education system is what I would consider the complete opposite to the British approach, abstinence only, which is steeped in both sexism and heterosexism. On the television show The Joy of Teen Sex, the doctors and therapists help a diverse set of teenagers with a continuum of problems, including: the importance of testicular exams, oral sex, lesbian sexuality, safe anal sex, organ piercing, contraception, etc. What is clear via this public programming, is that Britain is not leaving its teenagers blind and in the dark about sex and sexuality, rather is working to educate teens about making safe, healthy, and fun decisions. On this trip we have casually joked about the third page of widely circulated newspapers, The Sun or The Star, which feature naked women, but haven’t gone further to explain the cultural significance. Again, using my love of television and all that is tasteless, I turn to the BBC for insight into British values. What I found was broad programming of soap operas covering controversial topics that get at the essence of the struggles families and communities in modern working-class Britain. Not once did I channel surf into a warzone or high-speed chase or anything having to do with violence, nor have I seen any billboards or advertisements depicting these themes. Maybe this is because all around, top-down or bottom-up, however you want to spin it, the British do not fear their bodies, rather fear the violence that somebody else can inflict. This thought gets more pervasive when applying ideas of social learning, parenting, morality development, etc. What are the priorities and what is the value system of my homeland? Now, we have the opportunity to live in a culture with a different set of values, and examine alternatives to the American right.