Description
Book SynopsisWhen the sun set on the British Empire, the resultant fragmentation of British identity emerged most tellingly in artistic works: cinematic works such as Howards End depicted a richly historical land steeped in tradition and tragedy, while the more modern Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels revealed a brutal yet sharply humorous portrayal of contemporary English life. That relationship between nationalism, national identity, and postcolonialism remains central to many British dramatists’ works, and in Film, Drama and the Breakup of Britain, Steve Blandford explores how the “breakup” of Britain has influenced contemporary British drama. Breaking down the scholarly barriers between theater and film studies, Blandford examines British directors’ interpretations of their nation’s postcolonial age, tracing the various ways that auteurs have created dramatic narratives that explore the idea of being “British” and all its inherent complexity. From community-based theaters in Scotland and Wales to the blockbuster The Full Monty, Blandford probes the cultural impact of Britain’s struggle to form a new identity, making his book an essential read for all those interested in postcolonial studies and the history of British film.
Trade Review"The perfect primer for anyone looking to obtain an overview of what has been happening within British culture over the past decade. [Blandford] has an accessible style, his analysis is sharp, his arguments clear and persuasive, and by virtue of the breadth of his focus, this study is certain to remain a valuable resource as notions of cultural identity across the British Isles continue to provoke debate." -- Owen Evans "Media Wales Journal" "In Steve Blandford's recent book Film, Drama and the Break-up of Britain, the author examines how recent theatre and cinema have reflected and critiqued emerging ways of imagining Britishness - Blandford is a lucid writer whose chapter on Irish film is a deft round-up of existing critical opinions on the topic - " - Ruth Barton, Film Ireland "If you are looking for a summary of film and drama's engagement with pre- and post-devolution in Britain this is the book for you." - Bryce Lease
Table of ContentsChapter 1: 'Introduction' - Page 7 - Steve Blandford Chapter 2: 'Last Orders in Wonderland: England and Cinema' - Page 19 - Steve Blandford Chapter 3: 'Beyond "Priests, Pigs and Poverty": Ireland and Cinema' - Page 47 - Steve Blandford Chapter 4: '"We Can't Even Pick a Decent Country to be Colonised By": Scotland and Cinema' - Page 65 - Steve Blandford Chapter 5: '"A Beautiful Mistake": Wales and Cinema' - Page 87 - Steve Blandford Chapter 6: '"An Evaporation of Certainty": England and Theatre' - Page 105 - Steve Blandford Chapter 7: '"Protestants Don't Write Plays, You See": Ireland and Theatre' - Page 125 - Steve Blandford Chapter 8: 'No More "Cultural Cringe": Scotland and Theatre' - Page 145 - Steve Blandford Chapter 9: 'Behind "the Facade of Cool Cymru": Wales and Theatre' - Page 163 - Steve Blandford
