ENGLAND

What makes someone English? Inspired by the Martin parr documentary ‘Think of England’ made in 1999.

This project is important in current England because questions of identity, belonging, and national values have become more urgent and complex in recent years. Inspired by Martin Parr’s 1999 documentary Think of England, which explored the essence of Englishness through candid interviews and imagery, revisiting these questions today opens up a deeper conversation about how England has changed — and how ideas of English identity continue to evolve.

Why this project matters now:

1. Post-Brexit Identity Shift
   England's departure from the EU reignited debates around nationalism, sovereignty, and what it means to be English versus British. There’s been a renewed focus on defining Englishness — politically, culturally, and emotionally — especially as different parts of the UK assert their own identities more strongly.

2. Cultural Diversity and Inclusion
   England is more multicultural than ever. Cities like London, Birmingham, and Manchester are home to people from all over the world. This project gives a platform to a wider range of voices that weren’t always heard in older conversations about Englishness — challenging the idea that being English is tied to ethnicity or class.

3. Rise of Populism and Division
   Social and political divisions have deepened over the last decade — between urban and rural, north and south, young and old, Leave and Remain. Asking what it means to be English today is a way of trying to bridge those divides — or at least understand them.

4. Generational Change
   Young people in England may not relate to traditional images of Englishness — tea and crumpets, village greens, the Queen. Their sense of identity may be shaped more by global influences, digital culture, or activism. This project captures how those shifts affect national self-image.

5. The Search for a Modern Identity
   Without the unifying force of empire, and with declining influence on the world stage, England is redefining its place both in the UK and globally. This creates a unique moment to ask: What do English people value? What traditions endure? What should change?

What makes someone English?

Inspired by Parr’s method of asking everyday people, the project could explore how different individuals — from various regions, ethnicities, and generations — answer this question. You might hear things like:

• Birthplace or ancestry? – “You’re English if you were born here” vs. “You’re English if your grandparents were.”

• Culture and values? – “It’s about manners, queuing, dry humour” or “It’s about fairness and standing up for the underdog.”

• Feeling or belonging? – “I just feel English” vs. “I’ve never felt accepted as English, even though I was born here.”