Character Design help [Brits]

[Vanguard_Ex]

This is a character design question for most europeans, focusing on people of the Great Britian. Let me explain what I'm doing.

I'm an american designer (college student) creating comic book characters. I want to include a variety of cultures in terms of characters, but I want them to be rich characters containing cultural overtones to contrast those I'm making for my comic*. The few british contacts I have tease my american ways. A good ribbing, you might say (or you might not). But the cultural differences just between he and I are at times, stark. I've shown him the Geiko Gecko [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMF8qp0pg_o], and he felt the depiction of his culture in american eyes was absurd.

My question to you folks is, what are common follys that american writers do depicting brittish characters? It could be an over use of, "'Ello mate," or "Bloody hell!" What are some mannerisms that you feel a brit would never do that americans might? Taking offense to being called a Brit, for example (americans can be overly sensitive to racial issues, whereas this detail is not so extreme in europe, I'm told). Basicly, think back to whatever form of media you once saw/read, and if there was any instances where you, an expert in culture in British ways, felt were absurd, I wanna hear about it.

This isn't a thread about taking the piss out of americans, either. Nor culture bashing. So please, lets not go there. Thanks.


* I won't be making this comic for some years, while I'm in school. I do work on building up script, and characters in the meantime. That way it's ready to go when I am.

Good introduction to the thread, I like your style. Right, let's see here...

Sustaining ourselves completely on tea and crumpets
Wearing tophats
Speaking in horribly posh accents
Having disgusting teeth
Having moustaches
Eating eel pie
Calling sandwiches 'butties'
Calling each other 'old chap'
Wearing suits
Being generally boring people

That's about as much as I can think of for now. Hope I helped!

 

[LordCraigus]

I think the whole 'posh Brit' stereotype is a well worn and outdated one, I doubt anyone really believes that anymore if indeed they ever really did. The cockney geezer stereotype is fast becoming as overused, while people like that do exist. It's all about looking a lot closer at the deeply rooted cultural differences that affect the way people talk and act. However I've never been to the US so I can't speak with any certainty about how it really differs.

There isn't a whole lot of American films/TV I've seen that does try to depict the UK or people from it, certainly none that I remember well (the Simpsons and Family Guy episodes that do are pretty painful to watch, but it's their job to parody). As such I maybe sense the US is a lot less aware (ignorant sounds too insulting) of a lot of the rest of the world - whereas - much of the rest of the world is bombarded by American media and can't help but acknowledge the US on a daily basis, most of the time subconsciously. The fact we use (relatively) the same language probably only makes that more apparent in the UK.

If you're really super-duper serious then I'd take Capo Taco's suggestion and holiday in the UK to see a snippet of what it's like, even if you will be seeing it through 'American eyes'. Failing that, find some British films/TV to watch, I'd be happy to recommend some.

 

[Tranka Verrane]

But the cultural differences just between he and I are at times, stark. I've shown him the Geiko Gecko [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMF8qp0pg_o], and he felt the depiction of his culture in American eyes was absurd.

OK went and watched that because I had no idea what it was, and it's a gecko talking with a slightly mockney accent. I don't see any cultural commentary there though. Not quite sure what you were getting at.

Yes some of the US ideas about Britain are bizarre. Doubtless some of our ideas about the US are too. However the best British stuff about America does seem head and shoulders above the best US stuff about the UK.

If you have never visited Britain, or have so only briefly, and have only seen the UK on screen in American media then you will have a very skewed image. In contrast here in the UK we watch a massive amount of US film and TV so we probably have a better grounding in your culture than you do on ours.

Watch some good british films and/or tv to get an idea of the kind of environments that people are in, don't write naff versions of accents, and check your references for anything that might be different. And don't assume that London = Britain, which is the biggest personal annoyance.

Some semi-random starters, chosen for cultural references above enjoyability (I could have just picked a load of SF movies, starting with Alien, but it wouldn't really have helped):

Withnail And I
An American Werewolf In London
Son Of Rambow
Rita, Sue, And Bob too
24 Hour Party People
Trainspotting
The Full Monty
Educating Rita
Gregory's Girl
Shaun Of The Dead
28 Days Later
A Fish Called Wanda

There's also a lot of good TV SF. Following in the wake of the recent vampire revival for instance I'd recommend Ultraviolet, if you can find it anywhere.

 

[Firia]

Thanks for your help folks. I didn't see many "this was a bad depiction," instead in favor of "do this instead." Also, Ninja Englishmen do use monocoles as throwing stars.

 

[Salmaras]

I'd complain about beign a nation depicted as having an obsession with tea. But then i remember it's exactly false

 

[Angel Emfrbl]

Tea... Beer... The ACCENT... Those are sterotypes. Read the Woechester + Geeves books/watch the TV series for anything remotely out of date.

And for some reason these days Amercians complain we have bad teeth... Whoever gave them that idea cause I can pull up some right ones from the net that come FROM AMERCIA? ^_-

Also, understand accents such as cockney (and "Essex" Cockney) and Devonshire (origins of the so called "pirate talk") exist. Also these days "Brittish" means anyone living in the Brittish Isles, who may hail even from India (don't ask how it works) but will have a slightly different English accent because of living here to the USA. Theres Welsh, English, Scottish and Irish.

And don't even get started on Politics! The American media screws things up like trying to understand our NHS system and how it works. All we got back was "Amercians are dumb" and I'm sure Amercia's media states "Brittish are terrible" all the time judging by the reactions I used to get on the net at least up until 5 years ago.

Basically this all makes it complex and why often Amercian's get the "Brittish" thing wrong, so I'd advise to pick one thing from Brittishness and stick to it. To grasp the full extent of being Brittish would cost a lot of time and effort and understanding. If your depicting the Queen, research her, if you want a common person off the street, look up that. Don't try to be clever and overcomplex things.

 

[annoyinglizardvoice]

The British seem far more willing to their own government, establishments etc than Americans ever do.
British (particularly English) who know anything about history tend to find American movies that get the histroy all wrong very offencesive.
British tend to start drinking earlier and driving later than Americans.

 

[Ciarang]

Firstly, most Americans write Brits as English, not the British, British is 3 (And a half xD) very unique cultures.

Hey xD
Ok, I'm not welsh but I live on the border but still =P

 

[Nickolai77]

Watch plenty of British films, just to add to the list that Tranka provided -
Blackadder, The Full Monty and Fawlty Towers. For more modern Brit's go onto BBC I-player or youtube, and look up Dr Who or Mock the Week, a show that details quite well what's on the national consciousness and is by far the most entertaining way to learn about British culture.

Oh, this may help- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iLKdCKM11yo

Bill Bailey pretty much directly answers your question.

 

[Mr Cwtchy]

Firstly, most Americans write Brits as English, not the British, British is 3 (And a half xD) very unique cultures.

Hey xD
Ok, I'm not welsh but I live on the border but still =P

Being Welsh, I find it far easier to go along with the sheepshagging jokes. I tend to hear the same ones anyway. It only becomes a problem when gullible people acutally believe we shag sheep. I know it's all in good fun the rest of the time though.

On the original topic, the character should certainly be deadpan, as we tend not to show much emotion. Of course, he/she should also be shown complaining about either the weather, the government or just Britain in general.

 

[curlycrouton]

Whatever Americans write about Brits.

Firstly, most Americans write Brits as English, not the British, British is 3 (And a half xD) very unique cultures.

Also, The British are pretty much the same as Americans these days, it really depends where you grow up, city Brits and city Yanks are probably really similar other then occasional phrase or two.

I'm not nearly so sure about the last bit, but a lot of Americans will refer to the UK as England. Even companies and professionals do it. South Park cannot be watched online, legally, in the UK. But the apology has a picture of the Queen and "Sorry England".

Do not mix up the cultures of Scotland, the drunk ginger people, Ireland, the drunk drunk people, and Wales, the drunk sheep people.

England is just drunk knifey people.

I should know, I do live in London, and have almost been stabbed before. xD

MY AREA IS SO FUN.

I've been threatened with death by bike tyre. Long story.

I pulled the old "gut-punch and run", anyway. I had to walk home for an hour in the freezing cold.

And this is only Bognor Regis. I've had a knife waved at me twice when I've been in London. Probably my fault for venturing too far down back-alleys in an attempt to find shortcuts, but still.

 

[stonethered]

Scotland, the drunk ginger people

so where are the sober ginger people from? denmark? or am i just an anomaly?

 

[Jack and Calumon]

British people are like American People, but just not as loud, much more polite (most of the time) and we hate the french for no adequate reason. Welcome to the Family!

 

[Lord Mountbatten Reborn]

Absolutely EVERY American I've ever met only knows of two accents in Britain, those being Queen's English and cockney, so it is incredibly grating when they try to address me in one or the other, getting them both wrong because I live in the north where people with those accents are stamped on (despite the fact I myself am posh).

Also, NONE can understand the difference between an Australian accent and a British one.

 

[Lord Mountbatten Reborn]

Gotta have a dapper hat.
Also a cane.

A tailcoat, too.

Oh, and they should be the villain.
Obviously.

It probably doesn't help that I would very much love a dapper hat, cane and tailcoat, and have a deep hatred of things.

 

[stonethered]

British people are like American People, but just not as loud, much more polite (most of the time) and we hate the french for no adequate reason. Welcome to the Family!

i'm like that. i blame my dad.

 

[El Poncho]

Maybe one from each country in Britain, a Scotsman , Englishman and welshman (or woman).

 

[dark_taint92]

You forgot the monocle.

I also forgot to mention the sky is blue.
It's a well-known fact that every Englishman is born with a monocle.

Kind of like how every baby is born with a creepy alien head.
Gosh.

i've miss placed my monocle.
i'll have to buy a new one and a top hat.
boo i hate being mugged for my prescious top hat
ot: i just hate being put in the same boat as hugh grant most american women seem to think we speak like them. it's bloody annoying, i dont go around bumbling and umming

 

[Lord Mountbatten Reborn]

I've got a borderline-Etonian accent. I really do speak the Queen's English, use long words, drink tea, am polite and like crumpets.

Huzzah for keeping up the stereotype! I do it too, quite blatantly.

 

[Flushfacker]

Firstly, most Americans write Brits as English, not the British, British is 3 (And a half xD) very unique cultures.

Hey xD
Ok, I'm not welsh but I live on the border but still =P

I think the and a half part would be referring to Northern Island not Wales

OT I think the main thing americans get wrong when making a british character is an overly emphasized accent of some sort. We aren't all cockney or speak with plumbs in our mouth. Some of us just speak, well... normal. Kinda like toning cockney down about 7 notches. Although my friend does talk 'proper cockney' and he's no where near the bow bells. Anyway for a good example of how not to do a british character see 'Frasier' with Daphne and all relatives.