Final Research Project

A culture is composed of individuals who share beliefs on many aspects including art, lifestyle, behavior and language. Often times, there are images that become associated with and are representative of the culture. Certain images such as flags, famous buildings and pop culture icons represent what people generally think about culture. The same idea surrounds British culture; the British guard being one of those cultural images. Many associate soldiers in red uniforms and black fur hats with the British culture but never read into the cultural image any further. The British guards are so commonly used in reference to British culture that I wanted to analyze them more in depth. The Queen’s Guard, also known as the Queen’s Life Guard, is the name given to the soldiers whose main priority is guarding the royal residences in London. These locations include Buckingham Palace, St. James’s Palace, Tower of London and Windsor Castle. The guards also post a sentry at the Palace of Holyroodhouse which is the Queen’s residence in Edinburgh, Scotland. The Queen’s Guard is found from one of the five regiments of foot guards. These regiments include, in order of power, Grenadier Guards, Coldstream Guards, Scots Guards, Irish Guards, and Welsh Guards. The rank of power follows the order in which the regiment is listed with the Grenadier Guards as the most senior regiment and the Welsh Guards as the lowest regiment.

Upon discovering that there are five regiments within the Queen’s Foot Guards, I became intrigued with what the difference was between each group and how they managed power. Due to the fact that I never knew there were five different regiments, I believe the power relationship among the Queen’s Foot Guards is subtle. I do not believe the dominate regiments hold a significant amount of power over the lower regiments. Analyzing the subtle differences in uniform, the roles of the guards, and the ceremonies and parades they participate in allowed me to discover the power relationship between the five regiments. Also, interpreting the type of power relationship that exists among the guards says a lot about the political cultural aspect within England. The specific location to which I compared information and got research was Buckingham Palace where the guards specifically must protect.

Before analyzing the British guards, it is important to understand how to read cultural products as texts. The cultural products that I examine in reference to the British guards including clothing, photographs and ceremonies can help define and express political culture as a whole. These things can be analyzed as texts and provide a wide range of information. Interpreting these aspects, or reading them as texts, is what Turner describes as “The most recognizable and possibly the most important theoretical strategy cultural studies has developed…” (Turner 87). Everything is a text and can be used to explain cultural aspects. This directly relates to the issue of clothing within the five different regiments of foot guards.

The most significant way to analyze the power distribution between guards is to “read” their uniforms. All regiments wear a scarlet tunic, black bearskin hat, shoulder stripes, cuffs of dark blue and white, dark blue trousers with a red stripe down each leg, and a white leather belt. Although uniforms are very similar, there are some differences. The first difference lies within the buttons. Grenadier Guards are the most senior regiment. The buttons going down their red tunic are single spaced and represent their number one status. Buttons on the Coldstream Guards tunics are in pairs, the Scots Guards are spaced in threes, the Irish Guards are in groups of fours, and the Welsh Guards are in groups of five. Below is a picture with the different tunics where the patterns of the buttons are visible (you can click on it to make the image larger if needed). The pictures follow the order of the regiments. The spacing of the buttons is the most major difference in the uniforms between the five regiments. The most dominant group does not stand out easily among the other groups and therefore is not showing a very big difference in power. If the Grenadier Guards held a large amount of power in comparison to the other foot guards more than likely they would wear a completely different uniform or different color tunic or something of that nature.

Other differences in uniform are also modest. Each regiment wears a different collar badge and shoulder badge. A soldier can easily be told which regiment he belongs to from the badge they are wearing but the badges are very difficult to see from a distance. The Grenadier Guards wear a grenade on their collar and the Royal Cypher on their shoulder, the Coldstream Guards wear a Garter Star on their collar and a rose on their shoulder, the Scots Guards wear a Thistle Star and a Thistle, the Irish Guards wear a shamrock and the St. Patrick Star, and the Welsh Guards wear leeks on both badges. A final subtle difference between uniforms is the side of the hat the plume is located and also the color of the plume. The Scots Guards is the only regiment who does not wear a plume at all. The Coldstream and Irish Guards wear them on the right while the Grenadier and Welsh Guards wear them on the left. The colors of the plumes are all different and include white, scarlet, blue and white-green-white. Analyzing the difference in dress between soldiers relates directly to Turner's section on semiotics because the dress of the soldiers contain signs. Turner states, "...we signify ourselves through the signs available to us within our culture; we select and combine them in relation to the codes and conventions established within our culture, in order to limit and determine the range of possible meanings they are likely to generate when read by others" (Turner 17). The different buttons and badges act as a collection of signs and all hold a certain meaning within society once they are all put together on the uniform. They represent the way the soldiers want to be seen within the culture. The soldiers want to be read by others as having authority and importance in society.

Another way to analyze the power relationship is to look at the different roles each regiment carries out. Within the Foot Guards, all regiments serve as a light infantry battalion as well as in public duties meaning mostly ceremonies and parades. It was my belief that the senior regiment would hold more responsibilites than the other regiments showing their higher status in power. But, the only differences that exist are that the Grenadier Guards serve in more public duties than the others and that the Scots Guards serve in armoured infantry. There are no significant roles the higher regiments fulfill that the lower regiments do not fulfill as well. This illustrates the very even power relationship that exists. All regiments remain basically equal.

The final thing I focused on when analyzing the Queen's Guards was the most famous ceremony they are involved in, the Changing of the Guards. This ceremony involves the entire Household Calvary Regiment which includes the five regiments of foot guards and two other regiments called the Life Guards and the Blues and Royals. This is where my primary source plays a major role. I was able to attend the Changing of the Guards ceremony at Buckingham Palace to see the different regiments in action. When I first arrived I was able to tell that the guards behind the gate were Coldstream Guards due to the scarlet plumes on the right side of their hats (picture to the right). It was too far to see which badges they were wearing and it was difficult to see the buttons which is why the plumes were so important. It is a good idea to have more than one way of telling the difference between the regiments. I thought it was really cool to have some knowledge about the soldiers in the ceremony and to know which regiment I was looking at. My main focus while at the Changing of the Guards was to see how the different regiments interacted throughout the ceremony. As the soldiers paraded out of Buckingham Palace and onto the streets, it was obvious that the Grenadier Guards were first. I could tell it was them by the white plumes on the left side of their hats. The senior regiment did get to be at the head of the parade followed by all other soldiers. This reinforces the fact that there is definitely a division of power among the regiments.

All of the regiments among the Queen's Foot Guards seemed similar to me before I started my research. Upon looking at the specific regiments in depth, I was able to see that there is a power relationship among the senior regiment and lower regiments. The difference in uniforms as well as the roles and duties they participate in show this division. There may be a subtle difference in power but a difference does exist. The Foot Guards represent a lot about British culture in general. The guards serve most importantly as protectors but just as important they serve as ceremonial figures. This represents how important tradition is within the public. England values history while still adapting to the changing times and the British guards represent power and history.

References

Turner, Graeme. British Cultural Studies: An Introduction. London, England. Unwin Hyman Inc.; 1990.

"The Queen's Guard". http://www.army.mod.uk/events/ceremonial/1071.aspx.

"Changing of the Guard: The Queen's Guard". http://www.changing-the-guard.co.uk/the-queens-guard.html.

The Buddha of Suburbia

While reading this novel, I had a difficult time figuring out whether I liked it or not. The Buddha of Suburbia brings up a lot of controversal issues and uses language I normally do not like to read, but I loved the situations and humor Kureishi used. I always found myself waiting for the next thing to happen and wanting to see how Karim would handle it. In my opinion, it was very entertaining to read.

The issue of cultural identity is extremely important within this novel. Karim can not clearly identify himself as either British or Indian. There are many reasons for this lack of identity but I think the relationships Karim has directly effect why he can not identify with one culture over the other. I think that if Karim had a reliable, strong relationship with someone in either culture, he would be able to identify with that culture more easily. Instead, all of his relationships, with people from both cultures, end up disappointing him. For example, Karim does not have a strong relationship with his parents. His English mother is not treated fairly and most times complains about the life she lives while his Indian father is in love with another woman and most times does not talk while he is at home. Neither represent a positive cultural figure to Karim. Karim hates to be in his house because it feels so depressing. I believe that if Karim's parents were truly happy to be together and Karim had an actual relationship with his father, he may identify more with his Indian heritage. He would be around his family more and learn about their culture, but Karim does not have this positive relationship with his parents. He hates his father for leaving the family and tearing everything apart. As a result, Karim desires to leave, to go to the city and to do anything possible that's different or exciting. His relationship with his father turns him off of Indian culture and throws him into British culture leaving him even more confused about his identity.

Another example is the relationship Karim has with Eleanor. Eleanor represents British culture. She is a young, attractive actress in London who is from a weathy family. She had a normal childhood in London and still has status within the city. Karim falls in love with Eleanor and for the first time believes it is true love. But Eleanor is attracted to director Matthew Pyke and continues to have a sexual affair with him. When Karim finds out that she is attracted to Pyke more than him, he leaves her. I think that if Karim's relationship with Eleanor had in fact been healthy and based on true love, he would identify with British culture. A successful relationship between the two of them would have meant happily ever after in the city of London. Karim would have continued to act and be in shows while experiencing life at the top of British society. The fact that the relationship ended badly leaves Karim disappointed and still confused. He has no one who can be a cultural role model for him.

Ultimately, I believe one's cultural identity has a lot to do with the people that surround them. The people that have influence in one's everyday life hold the most significance. I believe that if Karim had more positive realtionships with Indian individuals, he would feel closer to the Indian culture. The relationships he has with his father, Anwar, and Jamila are all rocky and disappointing at times. There are none that he can rely on. The same goes for the relationships he has with British individuals including his mother, Charlie, Ted and Jean, and Eleanor. By the end of the novel Karim finds himself back in his old neighborhood. I think he is just starting to figure out that his identity is defined by those around him and he finally accepts where he wants to be.

Tate Modern & London Eye

I really enjoyed visiting Tate Modern. The works there really grabbed my attention. While I was walking through each collection, I was thinking of modernism and works that represented finding meaning in life. One work that jumped out at me was Action Pants: Genital Panic created by Valie Export. It was multiple photographs of a woman sitting in a chair with a triangle cut out in the crotch of her pants. What really interested me was the story behind why this piece was created. Valie Export created this piece after entering a cinema, herself, wearing pants with the crotch cut out. She walked up and down each isle and in between the viewers. Her point was to confont the stereotype of how women were represented in cinema as passive objects. How great is this! This work represents how Export is searching for significance in her life and how to make a difference. She is not happy with the way women are represented and wants to use her art to change that view and also to help enhance the overall role of women by showing they can be tough. I see this as modern because the issues involved related specifically to what was going on in 1969, which was women's issues.

I was also interested in Picasso's works. Picasso dealt a lot with nudity, sex and love in his pieces. I specifically looked at Nude Woman with Necklace, Reclining Nude, and The Three Dancers. Picasso never painted the figures in a normal manner. He was constantly reinventing ways of looking at faces, bodies, and positions. The manipulations of the figures show different emotional and psychological questions Picasso had. For example, The Three Dancers is a painting that supposedly represents a love triangle which ended in suicide for one of the individuals involved. This shows a connection between love, sex and death.

I also loved Andy Warhol, particularly because I had learned about him previously. I always enjoyed his work with popular images and the subtle way some of his pop art drew attention to a controversial topic.

The London Eye was a lot of fun too. It was incredible to see such an amazing view of the entire city. It showed a different perspective of so many places I have already visited and seen up close. I could see a lot of differences in architecture while I was up there as well. I feel like a lot of buildings fit into the idea of postmodern but am still not sure about it. I have postmodern defined as a break from the past. In my opinion, there were a lot of buildings that differed structurally from what was commonly used in the past. For example, the way the bridges were constructed with the cables and beams seemed very contemporary as opposed to the architecture of the House of Parliament and Big Ben. The London Eye also seems postmodern because architecturally it is extremely different from what was being constructed in the past. The entire view shows the history of London through architecture. For example, there were modern buildings standing right next to historical St. Paul's Cathedral and what was really cool about it was that the view sort of blended the buildings all together.

Mrs. Dalloway

I spent a great deal of Mrs. Dalloway trying to figure out exactly who Clarissa Dalloway is. It was difficult for me because the point of view of the story jumps around a lot but also because Clarissa is a complex character. She lives in a world she does not necessarily agree with. I first thought she was a typical, upper class, English housewife due to the fact that she is obsessing about her party in the beginning of the novel. This is not the case although her name suggests it as well. She is referred to as Mrs. Dalloway which represents the status of a respected lady and represents the dominance of her husband, of who she belongs to in a sense. It was really great to discover how different Clarissa's image was from who she actually was on the inside.

I first saw a glimpse of who Clarissa really was when she flashbacked to her time with Sally Seton. Her encounter with Sally showed the kind of passion Clarissa looks for in life. Woolf states, "Then came the most exquisite moment of her whole life passing a stone urn with flowers in it. Sally stopped; picked a flower; kissed her on the lips." Clarissa said she felt most alive when Sally kissed her. Of course, any kind of romantic relationship with Sally would have never been accepted in society during that time. She was forced to dismiss the relationship if she ever wanted to be accepted. It seems as if Clarissa wants to rebel against the norms of society while also searching for acceptance within it. This conflict is also seen within her relationship between Peter and Richard.

Clarissa loved Peter when she was young and felt passion for him whether it was directed in a positive or negative way. But she rejects him when he proposes. Instead, Clarissa decides to marry Richard who is a nice, respectable man but for whom she feels no passion for. I wonder why she abandons the passion that she desires for in life to marry a man who can not even tell her he loves her. I believe she marrys Richard only for stability and also so she will be accepted into English society. In my opinion, the person who is married to Richard is different from the person who kissed Sally. I also wonder why Clarissa does not marry Peter who is obviously still in love with her even after so many years. Ultimately, it seems that if one is not accepted into English society, they are unable to live any kind of happy life. The pressures of society to conform are so strong that Clarissa is forced to marry Richard instead of doing what would really make her happy. Clarissa is able to endure her day to day life because she has her own room and her own individual time to do what brings her relief. The character of Septimus is not as lucky. He is unable to communicate his issues and unable to find a way to function in the conforming English society. Instead, he removes himself from society by committing suicide. The character of Mrs. Dalloway is much deeper than what her image represents. Clarissa is a rebellious woman searching for a way to function in a strict and conforming society.

Tower of London & St. Paul's Cathedral

When I first heard the assignment for this field trip I was a little nervous. I didn't think I would be able to find many similarities. But to my surprise, I was able to find a lot of commonality between the Towe r of London and St. Pauls Cathedral. The first thing I felt, after entering both places, was a sense of community. My favorite place in the Tower of London was the center where I felt most everything was located. There is literally a small community. Among a lot of things, there were houses with blue doors that were for residency, the location of the doctor, the execution site, access to many of the buildings and towers, and the Church. It is a nice open space with room to gather and be among other people.

I felt the same sense of community in St. Paul's Cathedral. Upon walking in, I first noticed how big it was. The Cathedral is enormous and very spacious and had a lot of room for seating. It was obvious that a large amount of people gather there to worship. The open space and large amount of seating adds to a sense of community. It is somewhat welcoming and comforting. Although I felt a sense of community in both places there is somewhat of a separation in the community in reguards to the nobility and the commoners. The Queen and those with a certain status are kept separate from the commoners whether it is in the Queen's Tower in the Tower of London or in separate seating areas within St. Paul's Cathedral.

Also within both locations was the sense of a higher power. The Tower of London was specifically designed to be a fortress for a ruling King or Queen. Everything within the tower had a purpose that directly related the ruler of the time. For example, the three lines of defense that exist including the inner wall, the outer wall, and the moat represent just how important the ruler is and shows how much of a higher power they are compared to any common man. Of course, in St. Paul's Cathedral the higher power one feels is God. The beauty in the ceilings and sculptures, the enormity of the dome, and the sense of respect emphasize this feeling of a higher power.

A final similarity that I didn't like so much was the fact that cafe's were built into both historic locations. I saw at least two inside the Tower of London and one in the crypts at St. Paul's Cathedral. I would much prefer if the cafe's were left outside of the actual buildings. It was weird to me to walk out of the tower that held the royal jewels and into a cafe. It was also strange to be walking past the tombs in St. Paul's and walk right into a cafe.

The biggest difference I noticed about both locations was the size. I imagined the Tower of London to be much bigger than it was. St. Paul's had the Tower beaten by a large margin when it came to height. St. Paul's also seemed more attractive one the outside than the Tower. One would think that an establishment with as much importance as the Tower of London would have been a little more appealing.