In our highly interconnected, and simultaneously de-centered world, cultural relations need to be thought of as a reciprocal process, whose aim is a deeper and richer mutual understanding. How do we gain insight into the matrix of symbolic meanings, visions of society and self, forms of private and public discourse which constitute the “inner life” of each society and culture? And how can we conduct meaningful cross-cultural dialogue across sometimes deep and subtle cultural differences?
During the 1930s and 40s, the British Council commissioned hundreds of short films detailing aspects of British life before, throughout and after World War Two. During the 'Welcome to the Social Planet' event, hosted on 3rd of December, Al Robertson introduced some of his favourite British Council films such as 'The Little Ships of England' and 'Women in Wartime'. We hope to be able to be host some of these wonderful films on the Counterpoint website in the near future for all to see.
We're looking at interesting ways of talking about what the British Council does and has done, in the context of its 75th Birthday this year. Initially there are four project streams designed to build a community of interest in cultural relations; to celebrate the Council's work in the last 75 years; and to help staff to extend and amplify what they do by using the social web.
The British Council is well known and well respected, but there’s one area of its work – and, indeed, its history – that’s sadly slipped into obscurity. From the early nineteen thirties, for a period of about twenty years, it was an enthusiastic commissioner and distributor of documentaries from some of the finest film makers of the time.
I’ve visited the BFI Mediatheque and seen my first British Council films – as it turned out, a very interesting selection from the 30s, 40s and 50s. And, I’ve been inspired by them – rather than writing about them, I thought I’d introduce them on film. So, here’s a bit of (almost live) videblogging from the South Bank
