In recent years, I have become increasingly interested in the idea of England.
Seeing myself as British means I haven’t thought about this much. I knew she was there, hiding in the background. I knew she helped birth Britain’s culture and gave her language, her idioms and her history to us.
And though I live within this cultural context, I’ve never taken the time to ask why these English certain stories, phrases and cultural markers are so important to the British society. Why do we continue to remember Robin Hood, why do we recall King Arthur Pendragon and why do we delight in the English Trifle? Why are these so important to the British cultural heritage?
Over the last few years, I have started to think more about this. Pondering on her relationship to me and how, as an Englishman, she has influenced the way I engage with the wider culture.
This project is called ‘this England’s Dreaming’ after John Lydon’s lyric found in ‘God Save the Queen’. Where he declares there is ‘No future in England’s dreaming’. A phrase which has hauntingly sat in the back of my mind for most of my life. I want to know why it stays remembered and has not been forgotten along with many other lyrics.
This project give me an opportunity to discuss, explore and discover who she is, what cultural inheritance she gives to our modern times and what she means to the residents of England.
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