The British Invasion: The Growing Crossover Between Content In The US & UK
Mainstream media is a vital part of any culture. From TV and film to music, these art forms have been instrumental in the ways in which we identify ourselves but also where we come from.
English and American culture have been described to go hand-in-hand, with many similar experiences to be had within both cultures, however, it’s clear that the media landscape is very different and diverse with stars like Megan Thee Stallion and shows such as Atypical not being as popular in England. Inversely, British rapper Aitch and UK television shows like Derry Girls are not garnering an American audience.
But there are some anomalies which seemingly cannot be explained.
British shows Sex Education and Love Island have proven popular in America with the latter being remade for a version in the United States. It seems that not only does diversity on the screen matter, but also the opportunity for viewers to connect with the characters and stories being told.
One of the main reasons why Sex Education, for example, garnered so much notoriety especially after the second installment released in January was because the eight-episode season contained so many individual stories for all types of people to identify with. That and the age of social media meant that discussions online about the show grew and pushed people in America and across the world to binge the show, despite it clearly catering to an English audience.
The same goes for Love Island which has already had one original American season. The show originated in the UK and depicted average people being given eight weeks to find the love of their lives. The format is simple but the drama that unfolds and the discourse which takes place mainly on Twitter meant that an average English show was catapulted into international stardom.
People could come together and find a common interest online and even though the show’s format, in theory, seemed simple it clearly worked well to bind people together, not just in England but also across the world.
Whilst Love Island now has an American version, the original British seasons still seem to be the most popular amongst American audiences, which begs the question of whether authenticity is a contributing factor to the success or failure of programs.
Music works in a similar way. We have all heard of the likes of One Direction, Adele, and Stormzy but the one thing these artists have in common is the fact that they are of British origin. Yet, all three have managed to “break America”. One Direction was hailed to be the most successful boy band of all time when they launched into fame in 2010. Adele’s return to music has been anticipated for months and Stormzy’s way of communicating opinions of politics, faith, and other topics have been praised by listeners on both sides of the Atlantic.
It is clear that although there is a clear cultural divide between America and the UK, the arts work in a mysterious and forward-thinking way to bridge that gap and provide opportunities for different communities to interact, despite the thousands of miles that separate us.
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Written by Moyo Kadri
