It is like the infamous British invasion all over again, except in digital form.
As they rise in popularity, types of British entertainment such as television shows and music have captivated a large number of students, and Carlmont is no exception.
“It’s foreign, so it’s different,” said junior Miles Coe.
British and other forms of foreign media have become very easily accessible via the internet. If a person wants to see a show that just aired in the UK, or a new song, he or she can easily click a few button on the computer and find exactly what he or she wanted to find.
TV shows are also shown on websites like Netflix, which provides many TV shows for people to watch.
Shows such as “Doctor Who,” “Sherlock,” and “Merlin” provide exciting and foreign entertainment to the American mass media outlets. Some students and other teenagers find it addicting and become obsessive over them.
Students have become so enthralled with the shows, talking about them with friends in many conversations or discussing what had happened on the previous episodes.
“[The shows] are just so good,” said junior Leesan Kwok. “The actors are nice to look at, too.”
Whole “fandoms” have been created around the forms of media, and many teenagers participate in giving their feedback along with other fans on the internet.
Many fans, teenage girls especially, have admitted to liking the shows because of the actors. The actors in many of the shows have had great spikes in fame, slowly becoming household names in many parts of the world.
The shows, especially, have a large fan base. “Doctor Who” for example is a very popular show that has been on BBC for a while and has gathered worldwide attention with its plot twists and constantly changing characters.
In the show, a man that is really an alien named “The Doctor” travels through time and space in his T.A.R.D.I.S. (Time And Relative Distance In Space) which is shaped like a vintage blue police call box. The Doctor picks up humans, called his “companions”, and adventures through the universe with them.
Popular actors such as David Tennant and Matt Smith have played The Doctor in recent years, and with the show being so popular, their fame has skyrocketed.
Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman star in the modern version of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s books, The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. In “Sherlock”, the famous genius detective Sherlock Holmes and his friend John Watson solve mysteries previously unsolved by other authorities. The show is set in modern day London as Holmes seeks out his ever-elusive nemesis James Moriarty.
The show “Merlin” is also a twist on a familiar tale. The adapted version of the tale of King Arthur depicts a young warlock, Merlin, entering Camelot, a great kingdom that forbids the use of magic. Merlin learns how to harness and use his magic to continually protect Arthur, the ever-so annoying prince.
The show’s run on BBC ended this past Christmas Eve, but the last season continues to be shown in America on the SyFy channel.
“[Merlin] has a lot of twists,” said junior Hilary Schulz. “I love watching it because I feel for the characters and can connect with them on some level.”
Each of the shows can be described as both dramas with some comedy, but they never cease to do the unexpected.
But TV shows are not the only types of entertainment that have arrived from across the pond. British music has had an enormous impact on American media.
One Direction made their fame on the show “The X Factor,” a singing talent competition with a grand prize of $5 million. Although they did not win, they have certainly made a name for themselves in America and worldwide.
“I think they got so popular because they have a different sound and make relatable music for teenagers,” said senior Michelle Swarovski. “They’re nice looking, too.”
One Direction’s sophomore album “Take Me Home” topped charts both in the UK and in America.
“They have a lot of influence for being newcomers, I think,” said Swarovski.
The British media has no doubt influenced the American media. Thousands of people ranging from young children to adults have taken advantage of the easy access to the foreign media and incorporated it into American pop culture.
While this British invasion may not be to the scale of the first, it sure has made a dent in the entertainment industries of America.
