Julia Huber
Researcher
Julia joined Demos as a researcher in June 2002. Her main research interests are in the area of demography, social change and learning. She is leading Demos' work on the ageing society and her Demos publications in this area include; together with Paul Skidmore The New Old: Why the baby boomers won't be pensioned off (2003); and together with James Harkin Eternal Youths: How the baby boomers are having their time...
at 9:14am
on Thursday, 23rd March 2006
Now I understand that 1966 is an important date for English football, it was a controversial game and England won the world-cup for the first and only time. However, I spent much of my walk down Tooley Street mentally composing a blog rant on why the English constantly have to mention it when they talk to Germans or about Germany. I have stopped counting the times when I was told - 'Well, but we won the second world war and the football world cup in 1966.' - and I simply don't understand anymore why 1966 is so important.
Yet, I was in for a serious shock. When I googled the advert I found out that this was actually a campaign put together by the German Tourist Board, the German Embassy and Air Berlin. And according to the Times Online the placards are intended 'to break down British stereotypes of a nation full of "humourless" people.' It apparently 'builds on research about how to market Germany as a holiday destination' and 'hopes "a dash of self-deprecating humour" will create a "more approachable image"'.
Now, in a sense this proves my point about the importance of 1966 in the English psyche and re-inforces my question as to why. But it also raises some serious questions about Germans, our sense of humour (or lack thereof), our sense of identity, and why we feel we have to promote our country in this way.
Now I understand that 1966 is an important date for English football, it was a controversial game and England won the world-cup for the first and only time. However, I spent much of my walk down Tooley Street mentally composing a blog rant on why the English constantly have to mention it when they talk to Germans or about Germany. I have stopped counting the times when I was told - 'Well, but we won the second world war and the football world cup in 1966.' - and I simply don't understand anymore why 1966 is so important.
Yet, I was in for a serious shock. When I googled the advert I found out that this was actually a campaign put together by the German Tourist Board, the German Embassy and Air Berlin. And according to the Times Online the placards are intended 'to break down British stereotypes of a nation full of "humourless" people.' It apparently 'builds on research about how to market Germany as a holiday destination' and 'hopes "a dash of self-deprecating humour" will create a "more approachable image"'.
Now, in a sense this proves my point about the importance of 1966 in the English psyche and re-inforces my question as to why. But it also raises some serious questions about Germans, our sense of humour (or lack thereof), our sense of identity, and why we feel we have to promote our country in this way.
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