First Step

Great Britain between Europe and America

Aims
Under this research, you are expected to notice various manifestations of culture and
inter-cultural influences, i.e., observe the role of Great Britain in between
the powerful centres- continental Europe and the USA- in socio-political and cultural aspects.

Expectations
Your research should observe British, European and American mutual influence in any field of social life or culture, either direct (e.g. migration of Europeans to America) or indirect (e.g. the influence of Hollywood on British cinema).

Suggested Topics of the Research
History
Emigration and immigration, colonial past
Politics
USA, Britain and the European Union, British and American
partnership, e.g. in Iraq, connections of the two political systems,
politics and the media, e.g. in election campaigns.
Language
Influence of British English on American English and vice versa
Economy
Co-operation and competition in British and American economy
Film
Interrelation of British and American films and how they imagine and
depict each other
Literature
Interrelation of British and American fiction and how they imagine and
depict each other
Art
All possible kinds of art, including visual and media art, and their
reception.
Music
Various styles of music, including classical and pop music, and their
reception and consumption.
Youth Cultures, Subcultures
Hip-hop culture (clothing, music), club culture (e.g. rave, disco), net
culture, graffiti, punk culture, skinheads , the roots and elements of
take-over.
Everyday life
British and American lifestyle, values and their mutual influences
Fashion
Characteristic features of British and American fashion and their links

THE FIRST STAGE STEPS
Sources
You should look for up-to-date materials. You should have at least 5 different
sources (books, articles, internet resources).
You should keep your research question in mind when you do reading so
as to not get carried away. It is impossible to read everything that has
been written about a topic. Therefore you should focus on your narrow
topic area.
Within the first week (15-21 February)
- explain what defined your choice
- make up a list of your sources and esay what information is available from them
- elicit pieces of information to be further used and comment on it
- start compiling a glossary (a list of terms)to your research work

WELL BEGUN IS HALF DONE!