UK's Cultural Influence (OCR GCSE Geography)

• The media industry includes film, television programmes, books, magazines, plays, and video games
• The government estimates that the UK’s media industry is worth more than £85 billion a year, generating £80,000 per minute for the UK economy
• Around 1.9 million people are employed in this industry (2020) and it accounts for £1 in every £10 of UK exports
• UK media exports include:
  • TV series programmes such as Downton Abbey, which is watched by over 120 million people in more than 100 countries including the USA and China
  • TV is considered one of the UK’s most successful exports
  • TV programmes accounted for £1.48bn in 2019/20
  •  The main markets are English-speaking countries such as the USA however, the Chinese market is now expanding rapidly
• TV reality shows such as Big Brother, and X Factor UK, watched by over 360 million people in 147 countries, and 51 countries have produced their own versions
• UK films are distributed worldwide but are most popular in New Zealand, Australia, and Europe,
  • The King’s Speech made over US$400 million at the box office, with approximately 2/3 of that amount being made outside the UK
• Music and music artists make up almost 14% of global album sales each year
  • The biggest three selling artists in 2020 were Harry Styles, D-Block Europe, and Ed Sheeran
  • The Beatles remain the best-selling artists worldwide with a 600 million record sales
  • Robbie Williams has overtaken Elvis Presley to become the solo artist with the most UK number-one albums
• Books such as Harry Potter (J. K. Rowling) have been translated into 68 languages and have sold more than 400 million copies in more than 200 countries
  
  • William Shakespeare was named the best-selling fiction author of all time, having sold approximately 6 billion copies
  • Agatha Christie is the most read author and her books have sold over a billion copies in the English language and a billion in translation
• The most exported media is in English, so people in other countries develop a better understanding of the English language, but accents and phrases are not representative of the UK as a whole 
  • Different lifestyles, values, and beliefs of UK residents have become more widely known and understood, but can be misleading
    • For instance, most people don’t have servants like in Downton Abbey
• Media exports influence people’s perception of the UK
  • Some films portray the UK as industrial, dirty, and ugly, but in others as scenic, green and rural
  • Positive portrayal of the UK encourages people to visit, study or work
    • Tourism increased significantly after the London 2012 Olympics 
• UK media exports act as inspiration to other countries to produce their own 
  • The format of The X-Factor is now produced in 45 countries, including Israel, Indonesia, and Portugal
•  British celebrities have an impact around the world through people copying their fashion and hairstyles

• The UK is a multicultural country, and the diversity it brings makes Britain's culture unique
• People have moved to the UK from all over the world for centuries
• Large numbers of ethnic minorities have come from places such as India, Pakistan, Caribbean and Africa
• As a result, ethnic groups have introduced aspects of their own cultures, such as music, food and fashion, into UK culture
• People often settle into areas with similar ethnic backgrounds; this creates distinctive 'place' characteristics; such as shops and restaurants

Contribution of ethnic groups to UK food culture

• The UK is traditionally associated with roast dinners and fish and chips, yet most of the food eaten originates from other countries such as pizza and curry
• This has influenced the types of restaurants and produce sold in shops, as different dishes require different ingredients
• This has in turn, encouraged specialised ingredient shops to open and supermarkets to stock ethnic food aisles 

Food quarters

• Curry is a popular food throughout the UK, and some places are famous for their curries 
• One place is the Balti Triangle in Birmingham city
• Birmingham is one of the UK’s most multicultural cities; 30% of its population are from ethnic minority groups
• Balti is a particular style of curry, which is stir-fried and cooked in an iron wok
• Originally, Balti was brought to Birmingham by immigrants from the Kashmir region of Pakistan and there are now over 50 restaurants serving curries in the Balti Triangle
• The Balti Triangle has also become an important tourist attraction. As well as the restaurants, there are shops selling cooking utensils, clothing, and jewellery
• Balti-style curries have become widespread throughout the UK with most shops selling Balti cooking sauces
• Other ethnic groups have also contributed to the UK’s cultural life through their food such as:
  • London's Chinatown
  • Little Italy in Cardiff
  • South Africa's Nando restaurants 
  • Caribbean jerk chicken
  • Japanese sushi