UK's Cultural Influence (OCR GCSE Geography B)

Media Exports

• The media industry includes film, television programmes, books, magazines, plays, and video games

• The government estimates that the UK’s media industry is worth more than £85 billion a year, generating £80,000 per minute for the UK economy

• Around 1.9 million people are employed in this industry (2020) and it accounts for £1 in every £10 of UK exports

• UK media exports include:

  • TV series programmes such as Downton Abbey, which is watched by over 120 million people in more than 100 countries including the USA and China

  • TV is considered one of the UK’s most successful exports

  • TV programmes accounted for £1.48bn in 2019/20

  •  The main markets are English-speaking countries such as the USA however, the Chinese market is now expanding rapidly

• TV reality shows such as Big Brother, and X Factor UK, watched by over 360 million people in 147 countries, and 51 countries have produced their own versions

• UK films are distributed worldwide but are most popular in New Zealand, Australia, and Europe,

  • The King’s Speech made over US$400 million at the box office, with approximately 2/3 of that amount being made outside the UK

• Music and music artists make up almost 14% of global album sales each year

  • The biggest three selling artists in 2020 were Harry Styles, D-Block Europe, and Ed Sheeran

  • The Beatles remain the best-selling artists worldwide with a 600 million record sales

  • Robbie Williams has overtaken Elvis Presley to become the solo artist with the most UK number-one albums

• Books such as Harry Potter (J. K. Rowling) have been translated into 68 languages and have sold more than 400 million copies in more than 200 countries

  • William Shakespeare was named the best-selling fiction author of all time, having sold approximately 6 billion copies

  • Agatha Christie is the most read author and her books have sold over a billion copies in the English language and a billion in translation

• The most exported media is in English, so people in other countries develop a better understanding of the English language, but accents and phrases are not representative of the UK as a whole 

  • Different lifestyles, values, and beliefs of UK residents have become more widely known and understood, but can be misleading

    • For instance, most people don’t have servants like in Downton Abbey

• Media exports influence people’s perception of the UK

  • Some films portray the UK as industrial, dirty, and ugly, but in others as scenic, green and rural

  • Positive portrayal of the UK encourages people to visit, study or work

    • Tourism increased significantly after the London 2012 Olympics 

• UK media exports act as inspiration to other countries to produce their own 

  • The format of The X-Factor is now produced in 45 countries, including Israel, Indonesia, and Portugal

•  British celebrities have an impact around the world through people copying their fashion and hairstyles

Contribution of Ethnic Groups

• The UK is a multicultural country, and the diversity it brings makes Britain's culture unique

• People have moved to the UK from all over the world for centuries

• Large numbers of ethnic minorities have come from places such as India, Pakistan, Caribbean and Africa

• As a result, ethnic groups have introduced aspects of their own cultures, such as music, food and fashion, into UK culture

• People often settle into areas with similar ethnic backgrounds; this creates distinctive 'place' characteristics; such as shops and restaurants

Contribution of ethnic groups to UK food culture

• The UK is traditionally associated with roast dinners and fish and chips, yet most of the food eaten originates from other countries such as pizza and curry

• This has influenced the types of restaurants and produce sold in shops, as different dishes require different ingredients

• This has in turn, encouraged specialised ingredient shops to open and supermarkets to stock ethnic food aisles 

Food quarters

• Curry is a popular food throughout the UK, and some places are famous for their curries 

• One place is the Balti Triangle in Birmingham city

• Birmingham is one of the UK’s most multicultural cities; 30% of its population are from ethnic minority groups

• Balti is a particular style of curry, which is stir-fried and cooked in an iron wok

• Originally, Balti was brought to Birmingham by immigrants from the Kashmir region of Pakistan and there are now over 50 restaurants serving curries in the Balti Triangle

• The Balti Triangle has also become an important tourist attraction. As well as the restaurants, there are shops selling cooking utensils, clothing, and jewellery

• Balti-style curries have become widespread throughout the UK with most shops selling Balti cooking sauces

• Other ethnic groups have also contributed to the UK’s cultural life through their food such as:

  • London's Chinatown

  • Little Italy in Cardiff

  • South Africa's Nando restaurants 

  • Caribbean jerk chicken

  • Japanese sushi