This thesis compares several working class films such as "Brassed Off" and "Billy Elliot" with reference to the theoretical concept of national identity, ie. the British national identity.
The analysis of such a diverse cultural term like "identity" and its treatment in British working class related films will be the topic of this research paper. After having defined the term on its several levels, I want to show how identity is treated differently in, firstly, a popular film called "Brassed Off" and, secondly, an independent film produced by Amber Films called "Like Father". Both films are set in the 1990′s and deal with the problem of pit closure and unemployment of miners. Both films deal with the consequences of unemployment and poverty of the working class than with work per se. Concerning class consciousness, both films show people who wish to escape the constrictions of their class. Since identity is not only a question of class, gender roles are considered in both films as well. The motif of identity is shown very differently in these films. This thesis analyzes how these films represent the construction, the maintenance and the loss of identity.
Table of Contents
1. DEFINITION
2. CONSTRUCTION OF IDENTITY
2.1. influencing power on construction
2.2. work in the films
3. MAINTENANCE OF IDENTITY
3.1. collective identity
3.2. leisure in the films
4. LOSS OF IDENTITY
4.1. Britain’s identity crisis
4.2. pit closure, unemployment, loss of prospects in the films
5. SUMMARY
Research Objectives and Themes
The primary objective of this research paper is to examine how the concept of identity is constructed, maintained, and lost within the context of British working-class films. The study focuses on two specific cinematic examples—"Brassed Off" and "Like Father"—to explore the impacts of socioeconomic challenges like pit closures and unemployment on collective and individual identities.
- The theoretical conceptualization of identity, drawing on Stuart Hall's cultural theories.
- The role of work and social environment in the formation of working-class identity.
- The function of leisure activities, such as brass bands and pigeon breeding, in sustaining community bonds.
- The impact of Britain’s cultural and economic identity crisis on traditional gender roles and employment structures.
- A comparative analysis between popular mainstream cinema and independent realist filmmaking.
Excerpt from the Book
2.1. influencing power on construction
Identity is constructed through various conditions. First, Stuart Hall said that identity is "formed in the interaction between self and society"4. The indivual identity, which is formed by both one's own character and education, is modified by social influences. Parents, friends, colleagues but also every stranger can have an influence on the subjective development of one's personal identity. In Hall’s words, it is the interaction between the enlightenment and the sociological subject of human beings that constructs identity.
The socialisation of every child plays an important role for the construction of its identity. A child is not a tabula rasa, which can be formed and modified like the parents or other adult want to. There are innate features of character which form the basis for the later personality. Michael Elliot, the eleven-year-old boy in "Like Father", experiences his personality by quarrels with his father, who mocks his son by discovering a more female part of Michael. Michael's schoolmates tease him as well. The unacceptance within society is the reason why Michael seems to be isolated and, thus, he learned to use this isolation for a change of it into tolerance and acceptance. This change gives evidence for an active and dynamic conception of identity.
Furthermore, Hall claimed that identity is "constructed through [...] difference"5. In relation and comparison to others, people recognise what they miss concerning their ability and identity. They distinguish each other. Especially, in Britain, where the class system is still present in everyday life, people compare themselves with others from a different social class. The motif of class could be noticed obviously in the films. The plot of "Brassed Off" was based on a love story between Andy, a boy from working class background, and Gloria, a woman from the middle class, although her father was a miner and therefore working class.
Summary of Chapters
1. DEFINITION: This chapter establishes the theoretical framework by defining identity through Stuart Hall’s concepts, specifically the post-modern subject and the varying levels of individual, collective, and national identification.
2. CONSTRUCTION OF IDENTITY: This chapter analyzes how social interaction, class differences, and work environments serve as foundational elements in the formation of personal and group identities.
3. MAINTENANCE OF IDENTITY: This chapter investigates how active participation in community life and shared leisure activities, such as brass bands and pigeon breeding, allow individuals to sustain their identity despite external social pressures.
4. LOSS OF IDENTITY: This chapter examines the phenomenon of identity crises resulting from economic instability, specifically analyzing how pit closures and unemployment in 1980s Britain disrupted traditional working-class roles and cultural habits.
5. SUMMARY: This chapter synthesizes the research findings, highlighting the differences in how "Brassed Off" and "Like Father" reflect identity, and concludes on the cultural significance of the chosen films.
Keywords
Identity, British Cinema, Working Class, Brassed Off, Like Father, Stuart Hall, Socioeconomic Change, Pit Closure, Unemployment, Collective Identity, Cultural Theory, Gender Roles, Realism, Community, Social Construction
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the central focus of this research paper?
The paper examines the concept of identity and how it is represented within the context of British working-class life, specifically through the medium of film.
Which central themes are explored throughout the work?
Key themes include the construction of identity through social interaction, the maintenance of collective identity via traditions and leisure, and the loss of identity caused by economic decline.
What is the primary research goal?
The goal is to analyze how two specific films, "Brassed Off" and "Like Father," depict the processes of constructing, maintaining, and losing identity in the face of industrial collapse.
Which scientific methods are applied in this study?
The author uses a qualitative approach, applying cultural identity theories from Stuart Hall and Philip Schlesinger to interpret narrative and visual elements within the selected films.
What does the main part of the paper cover?
It covers theoretical definitions of identity, the influence of work and social factors, the preservation of community through leisure, and the impact of the 1980s mining crisis on national and personal identity.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
Important keywords include Identity, British Cinema, Working Class, Socioeconomic Change, and Collective Identity.
How does "Like Father" differ from "Brassed Off" in representing identity?
The paper suggests that "Like Father," as an independent film, is more reality-based and culture-focused, whereas the popular "Brassed Off" serves more as a reflection of cultural aspects rather than an immersion in the community's culture.
What role do brass bands and pigeon breeding play in the analysis?
These activities are identified as crucial sites where working-class identity is maintained and passed down, providing a sense of continuity even when the economic necessity that birthed them (mining work) disappears.
- Quote paper
- Maxi Kirchner (Author), 2003, How identity is reflected in British working class films, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/53056
