When you think of British cultural exports in the 21st century, familiar examples like James Bond, Downton Abbey, and Adele might spring to mind.
But in the algorithm-driven world of TikTok, where a trend known as “Britishcore” has become one of the most sought-after movements right now, everyday aspects of British life are becoming a hot topic.
British Core is Cultural Terms At the turn of the decade it was used to depict rundown pubs, lonely traffic cones and other symbols of the bleakness of British life.
Today, it has expanded to include Trainspotting-inspired videos, lip-syncing from the stars of Twilight Nights, and a satirical celebration of the Oasis reunion.
TikTok points to growing interest in British fashion, comedy, and travel on the platform as evidence of a renewed interest in British culture and its typically satirical take on it.
The trend has proven so popular that even international content creators are joining in, eager to show just how Britishcore their content is.
One notable example is American DJ The Dare. A jokey video of himself At Paddington Station, Ewan McGregor’s opening monologue from Trainspotting plays, with Born Slippy from Underworld playing in the background.
The Dare posted the video, which has been viewed 245,000 times, with the slogan “British Max”.
The Dare filmed themselves in Paddington bearing the slogan “British Max”, set to Ewan McGregor’s opening monologue from the film Trainspotting and a soundtrack of Underworld’s “Born Slippy”.
Photo: Theo Wargo/Getty Images via NYFW: The Shows
Another video saw US cinema staff lip-synching to a clip of Gemma Collins from the film The Only Way is Essex, while an Australian radio host posted promoting an Oasis reunion, which has been viewed 3.7 million times.
In one TikTok US content creator @the_quivey10 has compiled a list of things he’d like to do if he were in the UK, including everyday activities made popular on Britishcore TikTok, like doing a “cheeky Tescoran” and getting a Greggs sausage roll.
TikTok said it has seen double-digit increases in posts using the hashtags #ukcomedy, #ukfashion, and #uktravel since January, and that the #OasisReunion video has been viewed more than 100 million times in the past two weeks.
“This summer, British pop culture exploded onto the global stage,” said Louisa McGillicuddy, TikTok’s UK trends expert. “From the Brat phenomenon to the excitement over the Oasis reunion… TikTok communities both in the UK and internationally have embraced all things Britcore.”
American content creator @the_quivey10 has a bucket list for when he visits the UK, which includes eating a Greggs sausage roll.
Photo: Newscast/UIG/Getty Images
TikTok, which has more than one billion users globally, said interest in Britishcore content was reflected in the popularity of The Killers’ videos. Performing Mr Brightside in front of a London audience Collins and Gary Barlow, regulars on the Love of Hands TikTok account, posted the meme following England’s victory in the Euro 2024 semi-final. TikTok said a video of the Take That singer in a vineyard saying “this is my idea of how to spend a pretty lovely day” has become a popular meme overseas.
Alwyn Turner, a senior lecturer at the University of Chichester and an expert on British popular culture, said a common thread among some of Britain’s most popular cultural exports was a sense of “cheekiness”.
Turner also pointed out how increased interest in British culture could benefit the national mood.
“As a citizen, when you achieve fame in America, it gives you a sense of optimism. It makes the country feel alive and vibrant. There’s a certain feel-good feeling in Britain when the world wants you,” he said.
More Fall Trends on TikTok
The British singer and her eponymous band, whose hits include “Smooth Operator” and “No Ordinary Love,” haven’t released an album since 2010. But TikTok has maintained interest in Sade’s music, with clips featuring her songs up 63%.
The singer’s looks have also become popular on the platform. 1 mood board clip The video has garnered nearly 5 million views, and the hashtag #sadegirl has also recently become popular on the platform.
A combination of travel trends and aesthetic sensibility has made the Northwestern United States popular on TikTok. Short slideshow And there are video edits capturing the region’s atmospheric woodland scenery. An account dedicated to the trend, @throughthepnw, has 1.6 million followers.
Food is a popular genre on TikTok, and Filipino cuisine has been gaining attention recently, in part due to interest in “boodle fights,” communal banquets in which participants eat with their bare hands at tables covered with banana leaves.
This trend supports playing easy, non-violent video games such as “Wild Flowers,” which features farming and magic, and “Moonstone Island,” a game where you collect creatures. There is also a rise in “deskscapes,” which create a relaxing gaming environment with plants and indirect lighting.
Educational influencers in fields such as history and science are becoming increasingly popular on TikTok. One example is Katie Kennedy (@thehistorygossip), a content creator who takes an unconventional approach to history education. One title is “Were people having sex during the plague?”, another is “Why did these royals enjoy pure body odor?”. Although she only started on TikTok in January 2024 while in her final year of university, Kennedy’s page has over 500,000 followers and 13.9 million likes. Her debut book, History Gossip: Was Anne of Cleves a Beggar? And 365 Other Historical Curiositieswill be released on October 7th.
Source: www.theguardian.com
