Representing Contemporary Britain-(article summary)

This is an extremely detailed article which discovers the uses of different factors in the british film industry in recent years. The factors include, sexuality, class, ethnicity and gender. The writer states that 'few films are made with the sole purpose of exploring one particular aspect of cultural identity.

Sexual desire is thought to be an issue used throughout british cinema right now however is thought to be a more recent subject as times, traditions and also industries themselves, have changed. It talks about how sexual issues are uses, for example the writer says that it is usually 'over flippant' or 'joylessly earnest' meaning it is rather humourless. Homosexuality is a sublject which has only recently been touched and is almost an uneasy issue.

Class is still divided throughout films and this has been 'imbedded in a number of films'. Notting Hill for example, postitions itself within an area of social and also ethnic diversity. The writer uses the 1990's in particular as an example to show the importance of current issues and class differences in the real world. Films in this decade have a representation of the working class and films had the same issues of unemployment.

The article mentions of how Britain has been accused of not documenting ethnic minorities. They are accused of lacking a full view. This issue is discussed in further detail and it is argued that Films do explore cultural issues such as racism but then are claimed as not to be political enough.

Gender is discussed and Males coem across as the more dominant but also they have more demands in films of their characteristics.

To conclude the article it states that 'British cinema has always drawn upon the nation's cultural and historical heritage.