A case in point ...

[blamebrampton]

So, there we were, having a chat on a friend's LJ about the differences between the US and the UK for purposes of a self-Britpicking list, with participants from both sides of the pond and beyond and frequent diversions into baiting and comedy from all sides, and apparently it has become a source of Flocked Drama.

Consider the argument very carefully: At least one American is very upset that British people prefer to be depicted in accurate ways.

And if you can't see why that's a bit dodgy, replace the word British with any other nationality.

I don't want to overstate the case, because really, it doesn't culturally oppress us the way that some other cultures have been oppressed by this sort of thing, since we don't deeply care and we had an Empire first. And while the original source of the complaint is a preference, it's certainly not a sine qua non, and we read heaps of stuff that gets us wrong, and some of it is good and some is crap, and really, at the end of the day we still pronounce and spell aluminium in ways that are scientifically logical, which in itself is enough. But, honestly ...

Interestingly, one of my points of difference was a tendency to soap-opera-like over-reactions in fiction. Clearly I drew the line too narrowly.

AND I left off the fact that it the entire United States has been the subject of mass-brainwashing to accept caffeinated flavoured beverages as coffee. Though I see Starbucks has dropped the word from their logo, truth in advertising at last!

Comments

[meredyth-13.livejournal.com]

I will say here what I've said on my own journal today - that if you are writing in a foreign culture, making an effort to represent it accurately is a sign of respect, to that culture, and to the audience of the piece. And where effort has been made, people will generally then forgive honest mistakes (and feel more willing to politely help with them).

No writer is perfect, no reader is perfect. But respect offered should engender respect returned.

And while our similarities, and the blurring of shared media experiences, may confuse the issue, there is no question that Australia, the UK, the USofA and Canada are each foreign to the others.

Don't get me started on the requirement to 'americanise' English and Australian texts so that the American audience doesn't have to grapple with those very differences. If more English and Australian authors had the ability to refuse, maybe more people in the US would have the chance to experience those differences and gain the same widening of understanding that we have had. My childhood would have been a much duller place without the Famous Five and their endless meals of tongue sandwiches. :D

[momebie.livejournal.com]

Speaking as an American, I HATE Americanized versions of texts. I was slightly appalled and extremely disappointed the first time I learned that it happened. Because, let's be honest, the greater reading public of the US probably doesn't have any idea the words have been changed at all. (Although, they're probably not also as annoyed by it as I am, but god damn it. I wanted to read a book by a BRITISH author. I KNEW THE RISKS I WAS TAKING WHEN I GOT INTO IT. Which aren't really risks so much as I might fall a little more in love with some of the British word choices. Life is hard, man.)

[meredyth-13.livejournal.com]

I think it's very sad that the American publishing industry assumes that its market can't deal with exposure to alternative English usage and all the wonderful little details that ground a narrative in its locality. It denies people the opportunity to discover things about other cultures. I was appalled when I first heard about the Harry Potter books. I may be naive, but I don't know of anywhere else that demands this.

We can only hope that those people (like yourself, bless you) who are open to exploring the differences will start to purchase english and australian books from overseas (I know I buy all my uk books directly from the uk, because quite often the US edition is released here and I refuse to buy them). And spread the word to friends, so that maybe, one day, you'll have access to works in their original form. :)