Elements of Culture & Tradition

Tradition plays a major role in the cultural differences between the United States and United Kingdom. In order to understand how Doctor Who is portrayed differently in both countries, we must first understand how their cultural traditions differ. The BBC first introduced Doctor Who in 1963 (Doctor Who 1963 - 1968 - Doctor Who Timeline, n.d.). It was initially a major hit in Britain and became a huge entertainment system for individuals of all ages. Being unique to Britain culture, Doctor Who did not spread to the United States until 1965. Unlike Britain, it was not as accepted until the reboot of the series forty years after the original airing (Doctor Who 1963 - 1968 - Doctor Who Timeline, n.d.). Knowing the brief history of the birth of Doctor Who in both the United States and the United Kingdom will make the traditions of the show easier to follow.

An article titled “The Cultural Divide: Fandom in America,” looks at the more generalized social differences within the traditions celebrated in help of Doctor Who. In the United Kingdom, fans take the celebration of the series to the extreme. Doctor Who is conversed about in work, school, and new settings (Porter, n.d.). Because Doctor Who was not as initially popular in the United States, most of their traditions are not as maximul. In America, Doctor Who tends to be verbally talked about in conventions and online blogging sites. It is not portrayed in the news or school settings unless individuals are personally engaging in similar interest conversations. “Fans here want to cluster together at conventions because it’s a place where they can talk about Doctor Who and share their passion for it, whereas in the UK you just do that at work” (Porter, n.d.). The difference in availability and social atmospheres plays a major role in how widespread Doctor Who is in each country.

Tradition also includes the celebration of historical Doctor Who events and globally recognized holidays. For example, the difference between the celebration of Christmas in the United States and Britain involve the television series. In the United States, ABC always airs A Charlie Brown Christmas during the holidays. Some families use that as tradition to bond and come together, while others have grown up watching the show every year. The United Kingdom uses the same expression except through Doctor Who. The Christmas special of the television series is a part of the Britain culture, just as Charlie Brown is a part of ours. Generally speaking, these examples are not true for all families and individuals in each country, but the majority follow mainstream events.

How Doctor Who is portrayed and used in each culture tells a lot about the difference in dynamics. Tradition relates to expression and generational differences as well, helping to explain the ‘whys’ and ‘hows’ of culture. The traditional gap between the United States and the United Kingdom allows evidence of differences in Doctor Who to be drawn. The brief history of the television series will benefit when examining expression and generational differences of each country.

Porter, Lynnette. "“Doctor Who” and the Cultural Divide: Fandom in America."

PopMatters. January 19, 2011. Accessed December 04, 2017. https://www.popmatters.com/135627-doctor-who-and-the-cultural-divide-fandom-in-america-2496091352.html.

"Doctor Who 1963 - 1968 - Doctor Who Timeline." The Doctor Who Site. Accessed December 04, 2017. http://www.thedoctorwhosite.co.uk/timeline/1963.html.