TIE context

• Thatcherism- her reign


  • Social & economic policies shaped decade of convulsion + upheavals.
  • PM from May 1979-November 1990
• Thatcherism- post-war consensus


  Engaged on radical programme breaking with post-war consensus.

  Post-War consensus: Keynesian economy promising strong set of publicly owned services (NHS, robust welfare state) following WWII.
• Thatcherism - neoliberalism

  • Needed to destroy post-war consensus through the ideology of 'neoliberalism.'
  • Neoliberalism: 'free market,' deregulation of market. Belief it will solve economic problems & provide greater prosperity for all.
  • There were many strikes + economic crisis during her career and strikes (e.g. 84-85' miners' strike).
  • She doesn't actually implement neoliberalism economics, only sells ideology to 'you.'
• Thatcherism - monetarist economic policy

  • Initiated monetarist economic policy paired with laissez-faire economic policy - rejected any state intervention into industry resulting in a decline in employment in traditional sectors (coal, steel, manufacturing).
  • Laissez-faire: minimal government interference in economy.
  • Hypocrisy of policy as she still massively subsidised private industry while selling off publicly owned industry.
• Thatcherism- welfare state

  • Intent on reversing ills of 'socialist state' through dismantling:
  • Welfare state (cause of dependency culture)
  • Power of trade unions (unacceptable challenge to authority of government)
  • Pursued conservative social programme rejecting advancements in feminism, multiculturalists, or any advances in minority rights
  • Thatcherism stripped away crucial rights/protections
  • individualism: ("no such thing as society"), individuals responsible for own economic security. Everyone responsible for own economic security.
• Thatcherism - welfare state pt.2

  • Welfare and state assistance now seen as shameful, resulted in stigma around benefits
  • Thatcherism demonised public services and eroded solidarity among working class
  • Rising unemployment disproportionately affected those living outside of South-East and the young
• Falklands War - why?

  • 1982 - Argentina's military junta was in similar position (to England) of economic crisis and unpopularity.
  • Argentinean administrations often began 'sabre rattling' (threat of military power) over Falklands islands to divert attention from problems at home.
  • Falklands islands (remote UK colony in South Atlantic) had been an area of contested sovereignty between Britain and Argentina.
  • 1982 Argentina invaded Falklands Islands that led to brief but bitter war.
• Falklands War - the problems?

  • Concerned fate of 1800 people, 8000 miles away, who have been denied the right to call themselves British unless at least one grandparent were born here.
  • 1.7 billion.
  • the Royal Navy was no longer properly equipped for expeditionary warfare. 
  • Used nationalism + patriotism to gain public support.
• Youth culture

  • 80s - diverse, original, and controversial, responding to changes in music and politics.
  • Popular music of 80s attempted to confront politics (post punk/early hiphop) or escape from it (new romantics).
  • Mod and Ska revivals of early 80s began to identify with music from earlier times rejecting Thatcherism.
• Skinheads - origins

  • Originated in 1960s among working class.
  • Motivated by social alienation & working class solidarity.
  • Defined by: close cropped/shaven heads, Dr Martens/steel toe work boots, braces, straight legged denim jeans, button down collar shirts.
• Skinheads - 1960s peak

  • Working class youth motivated by expression of alternative values & working class pride.
  • Rejected austerity & conservatism and previous hippie movement.
  • Drawn towards working class outsider subculture, incorporating elements of mod fashion & Jamaican music/fashion, especially Jamaican Rude Boy subculture among Jamaican British & immigrant youth - interacted + fraternised within same working class.
  • Influenced by Ska, Rocksteady, & Reggae.
• Skinheads - TIE 2nd wave

  • Adhered to emerging punk movement and genres loved by early wave skinheads were filtered through punk and new wave, creating style known as 'two-tone.'
  • Political affiliations grew in significance + split subculture demarcating far right/left strands.
  • Became associated with far right National Front & neo nazi ideologies.
• What is the song used at the beginning

  54 - 46 Was My Number by the Toots and the Maytals
• What does this song reflect

  this shows racial inclusivity of Ska which was a music movement popular during the first wave of Skinheads
• What do the tattoos on Woody and Combo reflect

  While the Skinheads all looks the same, they have different ideaologies
• How does Meadows reflects his Anti-Thatcher views


  by having "Maggie is a twat" shown in the mise en scene

  (it shows 4 times)
• What does St. George's Cross symbolize?

  Shaun's level of engagement with nationalism throughout the narrative
• What does the skinhead 'uniform' represent in the film's Mise-en-Scène?

  It represents the bonds of the gang members, Shaun's acceptance within the group, and Milky's pride in his cultural heritage.
• how is graffiti used to show the political views


  Graffiti is used to illustrate the political views of people in the neighborhood, such as 'Maggie is a Twat'.
• How does graffiti highlight Shaun's lack of understanding of racism

  He spray-paints his name - creating binary opposition between Shaun and the gang
• How does the graffiti reflect Combos gang lack of education

  They misspell 'National' as 'Nashnil'.
• What are the three main montages featuring Shaun?

  1. Shaun alone with extreme long shots, conveying isolation.

  2. Shaun with Woody's gang having fun to 'Louie Louie'.

  3. Shaun being 'trained' by Combo.
• How do the three main montages featuring Shaun differ in tone?

  The montages vary dramatically in tone and are useful for comparative analysis.
• How are montages of archive footage used in the film?

  Montages of archive footage are used to provide social and political context in the film.
• What is the purpose of the opening montage in the film?

  The opening montage in the film offers social and political context.
• What is the focus of the montage near the film's end?

  The montage near the film's end focuses on the Falklands conflict.
• What do the montages of archive footage invite spectators to do?

  The montages of archive footage invite spectators to draw ideological parallels between events in the film and real-life events.
• How is Woody seen as a father figure to Shaun

  Woody is seen as a father figure to Shaun through the way he comforts him after a hard day at school, something typical to come from a dad.
• In the makeover scene of Shaun how does Woody show is protectiveness over Shaun

  he states "Don't be rough with him now he is only a baby"

  - he is also getting his
• What are the two things that are symbolized through shaving Shaun's hair

  1. It shows that he is accepyed to the gang and his a skinhead

  
  

  2. it also shows that is returning to more of his child side, shaving his head to go back to being a baby, like Woodys baby
• What film technique in 'This Is England' creates emotional impact and horror in the assault scene?

  P.O.V Shots from Milky's perspective
• How does the consistent use of handheld camera in 'This Is England' contribute to the film's tone?

  Enhances its authentic social realist tone
• What do big close-ups in 'This Is England', like Combo and Shaun's conversation in the car, suggest?

  Growing intimacy between characters
• What type of editing technique is used in the final scene of 'This Is England'?

  Long takes
• What is the purpose of using long takes in the final scene of 'This Is England'?

  Prompt reflection on Shaun's emotions and thought processes, inviting spectator engagement
• Who composed the score for 'This Is England'?

  Ludovico Einaudi
• How does Ludovico Einaudi's score in 'This Is England' reflect the film's mood?

  It reflects Combo's negative influence on Shaun's life.
• How does the range of music in 'This Is England' contribute to the film?

  It reflects racial inclusivity and enriches the film's atmosphere.
• What historical event is emphasized through radio broadcasts in 'This Is England'?

  The Falklands conflict
• Why are Margaret Thatcher's discussions on the Falklands conflict significant in 'This Is England'?

  They emphasize the conflict's significance in Shaun's life and the UK's focus in 1983.