General Chit Chat

[Abdoulaye's Twin]

The brand word. The Austen brand is heavily marketed. Makes sense now

[thebish]

It's odd - I'm usually quite staunchly opposed to tokenism, affirmative action and positive discrimination in most of its guises, but I do think that having women as well as men on the instrument of commerce is something I'd quite like any daughter of mine to grow up seeing. I am not so exercised by the coherence of the case for any particular candidate - as I say, it's just about a bit of 'visibility' for me.

If I were looking to grasp the nettle and start a proper discussion about contributions and progress, I'd put Emmeline Pankhurst on.

so would I - but LLS said i wasn't allowed anyone political!

if the idea is to make women's contribution to British society more visible - then i think it's a missed opportunity to pick one woman who is already pretty visible....

what does she SAY - that women can write books?? that women are interested in love-stories about toffs?

far better - in my opinion - to have gone for a much less visible great - such a scientist - which would prompt a discussion about women being influentially involved in science - a realm where they have been far more ignored and overlooked than literature...

[Gooner Girl]

It's odd - I'm usually quite staunchly opposed to tokenism, affirmative action and positive discrimination in most of its guises, but I do think that having women as well as men on the instrument of commerce is something I'd quite like any daughter of mine to grow up seeing. I am not so exercised by the coherence of the case for any particular candidate - as I say, it's just about a bit of 'visibility' for me.

If I were looking to grasp the nettle and start a proper discussion about contributions and progress, I'd put Emmeline Pankhurst on.

so would I - but LLS said i wasn't allowed anyone political!

if the idea is to make women's contribution to British society more visible - then i think it's a missed opportunity to pick one woman who is already pretty visible....

what does she SAY - that women can write books?? that women are interested in love-stories about toffs?

far better - in my opinion - to have gone for a much less visible great - such a scientist - which would prompt a discussion about women being influentially involved in science - a realm where they have been far more ignored and overlooked than literature...

How about one of our female sporting greats?! Ahhh, I forgot, Bish doesn't think we have any of them

[thebish]

in 2012, Jane Austen didn't appear in the top 50 most borrowed authors from UK libraries - nor did any of her books appear in the top 250 most-borrowed books from UK libraries...

Pride and Prejudice does appear in the top 100 best books of all time, has had at least three films and two major TV series made of it, recently figured in a B.B.C recreation evening and meal and is currently re-showing on the B.B.C Drama series. There have been films of all her books except an unfinished one (Sanditon). Since the internet, e-books etc and also based on book sales,( her works have been in continuous print since 1833) libraries aren't the best judge right now. Jane Austen Societies exist all over the world tours, including a sizeable amount of tourists take place regularly and her home is just as famous as the Bronte Parsonage in Haworth. There is a museum dedicated to her in Bath that has a bigger souvenier line than the Reebok shop and book sales are constantly healthy. They also publish a two-monthy magazine that sells worldwide.

This is a quote from a Radio Times article by Amanda Vickery:

"Today, Austen is a cultural industry with global reach. The Austen brand has outstripped the Brontës, Dickens and Hardy - Austen Inc. may even be more lucrative than Shakespeare."

all of this may be so - but - what message does her face on a note present? that women can write books? it's all a bit safe and establishment - an opportunity missed, i think...

i suspect the idea was to highlight the fact that significant women have been overlooked in our history... Austen, though, is a woman who HASN'T been overlooked - as you, yourself, point out...

[thebish]

How about one of our female sporting greats?! Ahhh, I forgot, Bish doesn't think we have any of them

interesting that you can't name one!

[Gooner Girl]

How about one of our female sporting greats?! Ahhh, I forgot, Bish doesn't think we have any of them

interesting that you can't name one!

I could name plenty, too many to choose from.

[Worthy4England]

Can't believe this topic has gone on so long without Jordan's name coming up.

[thebish]

How about one of our female sporting greats?! Ahhh, I forgot, Bish doesn't think we have any of them

interesting that you can't name one!

I could name plenty, too many to choose from.

go on then - your top 3 candidates...

[TANGODANCER]

i suspect the idea was to highlight the fact that significant women have been overlooked in our history... Austen, though, is a woman who HASN'T been overlooked - as you, yourself, point out...

Which is of course pure assumption as I don't see anyone claiming that anywhere? The Post Office issued a set of Austen stamps a while back. That's hardly overlooking. Have a read of LLS's link to give an indication of how others see Jane Austen. If you think the focus of Pride and Prejudice is just a love story about toffs, I'd suggest a re-read.

[Gooner Girl]

How about one of our female sporting greats?! Ahhh, I forgot, Bish doesn't think we have any of them

interesting that you can't name one!

I could name plenty, too many to choose from.

go on then - your top 3 candidates...

Ok, slight athletics bias here but Jessica Ennis, Paula Radcliffe and either Sally Gunnel or Kelly Holmes (can't decide)

[thebish]

How about one of our female sporting greats?! Ahhh, I forgot, Bish doesn't think we have any of them

interesting that you can't name one!

I could name plenty, too many to choose from.

go on then - your top 3 candidates...

Ok, slight athletics bias here but Jessica Ennis, Paula Radcliffe and either Sally Gunnel or Kelly Holmes (can't decide)

they are all alive!!

[thebish]

i suspect the idea was to highlight the fact that significant women have been overlooked in our history... Austen, though, is a woman who HASN'T been overlooked - as you, yourself, point out...

Which is of course pure assumption as I don't see anyone claiming that anywhere? The Post Office issued a set of Austen stamps a while back. That's hardly overlooking.

indeed - I said Austen is a woman who HASN'T been overlooked.

as I said - in my opinion - an opportunity wasted to give recognition to a significant woman whose contribution to British life HAS been overlooked (I listed some good candidates.)

I can see you differ - but that's OK! chill! but we don't all have to agree with your support of Austen...

enlighten me - apart from being a love story about toffs - what IS Pride & Prejudice?

[thebish]

Can't believe this topic has gone on so long without Jordan's name coming up.

http://eveningharold.com/2013/07/25/fan ... ound-note/

[TANGODANCER]

i suspect the idea was to highlight the fact that significant women have been overlooked in our history... Austen, though, is a woman who HASN'T been overlooked - as you, yourself, point out...

Which is of course pure assumption as I don't see anyone claiming that anywhere? The Post Office issued a set of Austen stamps a while back. That's hardly overlooking.

indeed - I said Austen is a woman who HASN'T been overlooked.

as I said - in my opinion - an opportunity wasted to give recognition to a significant woman whose contribution to British life HAS been overlooked (I listed some good candidates.)

I can see you differ - but that's OK! chill! but we don't all have to agree with your support of Austen...

enlighten me - apart from being a love story about toffs - what IS Pride & Prejudice?

Hey, I'm quite chilled ta. I'm not the one doing shout words. No, you don't have to agree with anything ("we" and "all again"? Done another survey have you?) I think a lot of Pride and Prejudice might be explained in the title. Read it for yourself.

[mummywhycantieatcrayons]

what does she SAY - that women can write books?? that women are interested in love-stories about toffs?

For me it just says that women exist and can do stuff.

Given that there are no hard and fast objective criteria, I can't get too enthused about a discussion of the merits.

Let's just take one of your suggestions because it's timely - Rosalind Franklin. I agree that she'd be a good candidate, but with her presumably we'd be discussing whether she deserves to get the nod over Watson and Crick on merit and achievement alone.

[thebish]

what does she SAY - that women can write books?? that women are interested in love-stories about toffs?

For me it just says that women exist and can do stuff.

Given that there are no hard and fast objective criteria, I can't get too enthused about a discussion of the merits.

Let's just take one of your suggestions because it's timely - Rosalind Franklin. I agree that she'd be a good candidate, but with her presumably we'd be discussing whether she deserves to get the nod over Watson and Crick on merit and achievement alone.

no - i gave her as an example GIVEN the decision to pick a woman... (and I'm not sure such a discussion would ensue - after all - there are no posts on here discussing whether Austen deserves the nod over a male author...)

given they decided to pick a woman - and they specifically wanted her on the £10 note rather than the £5 - then maybe it's not the most important discussion of all time - but surely it's interesting to discuss which woman and why?

anyway - the OTHER side of the note already says women exist and can do stuff (stuff as big as being queen!)

[bobo the clown]

This is a quote from a Radio Times article by Amanda Vickery:

"Today, Austen is a cultural industry with global reach. The Austen brand has outstripped the Brontës, Dickens and Hardy - Austen Inc. may even be more lucrative than Shakespeare."

What a load of fckg horseshit.

(I tried various, more considered, ways of saying this, but, honestly, this seemed to win hands down).

[TANGODANCER]

This is a quote from a Radio Times article by Amanda Vickery:

"Today, Austen is a cultural industry with global reach. The Austen brand has outstripped the Brontës, Dickens and Hardy - Austen Inc. may even be more lucrative than Shakespeare."

What a load of fckg horseshit.

(I tried various, more considered, ways of saying this, but, honestly, this seemed to win hands down).

Nothing wrong with a man who speaks his mind.

[boltonboris]

Bitches gonna hate. Haters gonna bitch.

[Harry Genshaw]

Grace Darling, Octavia Hill or Enid Blyton for me