Why do you think that England does not really have a national dance, music etc,?

Question

A theory seems to be that because England spent so much time colonising other countries, it didn't really develop it's own culture. Any opinions ?

Answer 1

I thought the national anthem, God save the queen was our song?? And i think that we have too many cultures in britain thesedays for english people to have their own. Its just an opinion by the way.

Answer 2

Sorry but I feel it would not make any difference if we did.
The government would change it, saying we are offending the incoming Cultural Change of people.
Our laws are now made around the incoming.
We have been eroded to the back seat of society
.Like when they TRIED to take away Christmas, because it didn`t suit the Foreigners.
After all we do as we do in our Country.
At the end of the day we have Traditional dances, such a Maypole dance, Spring dances, for example, so I presume they count.
The National Anthem, has always been our, thing from the past. Yes agree with Shitesti about our musical instruments, we were one of the first to discover them.

Answer 3

Because in England being seen as worldly and having experience in a variety of thing has always been more respected. Being seen as having more knowledge and beeing more cultured i suppose. So it was never seen as that important to have our own. But there is many English dancing styles we just don't happen to class any of them as our national dance

Answer 4

That is completely untrue and highly ignorant.
You forget England also has it's own bagppe too- which predate Scottish and Irish ones.
Engalnd has a far more varied culture than either Scotalnd or Ireland- it's simply that we're far to modest to keep putting in people's faces.
I take extreme offense at such an outrageously provocative and stupid remark.

Answer 5

There's the medieval traditions, and later, and their 'folk' revivals. We tend to think of it as mainstream for that time, so we're more likely to define it as 'medieval' rather than 'English.'

Punk was very definitely a national dance and music, but only enjoyed by a segment of society -- everyone else interacted with it though, if only to condemn it. The movement was broad and influential; I really think that we have to count it.

England's modern traditions are close to the U.S.'s so they don't always retain their distinctiveness. More importantly, A&R execs make sure that music trends are fashionable, changing constantly. National musical identities can't develop in that climate.

Answer 6

We do have our own dances and music. What about the morris dancers? Then there's folk music. I'm not into it so I can't give you names and stuff but I know its there.

I had an American penpal who was really into the new England folk music scene and they had a group (Minstrosity) that would dress up in medieval clothes and play madrigals and stuff around the fayres.

Answer 7

Amy Winehouse the jewess and lady soverign aren't culture? The Jam, etc. etc. etc.

Answer 8

England has culture and its has intergrated other cultures along the way (curry loved by lots but not English).

No one cares really because its sooooo old and lets face it sterile. they aren't lively like Greeks, Russian, or Romanians....money cultures are alwasy bland.

Answer 9

What's up with you, our national dance is Morris & Clog Dancing.

Answer 10

what is the big deal about having a national dance or music? honestly, does it really alter anybody's identity?