No you have the wrong end of the stick. It was Ricky Gervais as David Brent who criticised this poem (satirically, it's British humour). Betjamen was long dead before the David Brent character came into existence.
Nononono, i've betjeman and i've seen the office like a bazillion times. I understand your video perfectly. I just don't agree with your interpretation of what the poem is about, linked with you interpretationof the office. You showed a picture of brent during the lines: "And get that man with double chin... etc" And i emphatically disagree with that being 'about' (people like) Brent. Brent is not a big business mogul, with a cigar and stacks of imaginary money.
Brent, the character created by gervais is clearly NOT an evil or unsympathetic man. He doesn't "wash his repulsive skin/In women's tears" he's a lonely man, totally ignorant of his own shortcomings and sometimes he can be mistaken for being an arse, but deep down he just wants to be accepted. That's how gervais describes him, and not as "that man with double chin/Who'll always cheat and always win". I think the 7th to 9th verses are about people like(!) Brent, Finchy and Lee.
and i'm not saying that betjeman could see into the future and comment on the people of modern britain, but i do think, as in all great art, he captured the spirit of industrialisation, globalisation, the rise of instrumental technology and their deep, deep social or socio-economic impact. It's a disturbing process which he saw gathering steam throughout the 20th century, but i think he couldn't have foreseen what it's doing to the whole world.
The reason for the picture of David Brent was merely because this poem appears on the cover of the DVD series of "The Office" Like Poetic Justice, y'know. Nothing more than a visual joke.
I confess that I first heard this poem done by Ricky Gervais. His portrayal of a philistine par excellence is brillant.
He gets the cocky ignorance of that type, their devotion to the practical that makes Betjeman's complaints seem like ranting. Now, when Betjeman wrote this, wasn't the class of person he was revulsed by really coming into their own? And when did he pass?
The seventies, I believe. God, could he even write of the popular culture that's seized the reins now.
Every day is like Sunday! Come, come nuclear bombs.
MsMirrorMirror 2 weeks ago
Marvellous poem very well read...
cheeryble 1 month ago
I have to apologise SpokenVerse, I used your reading for a uni project I had a day to do. I'll be happy to take it down if you wish.
eganl 3 months ago
With a few alterations to the products this poem now speaks of all market towns in post 1960's Britain.
idle44 1 year ago
I love Betjeman; sadly his England is dead: it died a long time ago.
djsmurfie 1 year ago
Is that your voice? That is great! Are you a professional actor or something?
JohannMint 2 years ago
Yes, it's my voice - I read everything in this channel. No, I'm not a professional actor.
SpokenVerse 2 years ago
You could get a job in that, seriously. Thing's like reading people's statements in court, you would be great at that!
virtualpilot45 2 years ago
Wow, do you really think so?
SpokenVerse 2 years ago
Apply for it, give them some of these videos.
virtualpilot45 2 years ago 2
I was kidding. They couldn't possibly afford me.
SpokenVerse 2 years ago 6
lol
virtualpilot45 2 years ago
@SpokenVerse legend.
2big 1 year ago
but the poem is not about a brent character. It's about big businessmen, the second part is about people like brent.
Methelin 2 years ago
No you have the wrong end of the stick. It was Ricky Gervais as David Brent who criticised this poem (satirically, it's British humour). Betjamen was long dead before the David Brent character came into existence.
SpokenVerse 2 years ago
Nononono, i've betjeman and i've seen the office like a bazillion times. I understand your video perfectly. I just don't agree with your interpretation of what the poem is about, linked with you interpretationof the office. You showed a picture of brent during the lines: "And get that man with double chin... etc" And i emphatically disagree with that being 'about' (people like) Brent. Brent is not a big business mogul, with a cigar and stacks of imaginary money.
Methelin 2 years ago
Brent, the character created by gervais is clearly NOT an evil or unsympathetic man. He doesn't "wash his repulsive skin/In women's tears" he's a lonely man, totally ignorant of his own shortcomings and sometimes he can be mistaken for being an arse, but deep down he just wants to be accepted. That's how gervais describes him, and not as "that man with double chin/Who'll always cheat and always win". I think the 7th to 9th verses are about people like(!) Brent, Finchy and Lee.
Methelin 2 years ago
and i'm not saying that betjeman could see into the future and comment on the people of modern britain, but i do think, as in all great art, he captured the spirit of industrialisation, globalisation, the rise of instrumental technology and their deep, deep social or socio-economic impact. It's a disturbing process which he saw gathering steam throughout the 20th century, but i think he couldn't have foreseen what it's doing to the whole world.
Methelin 2 years ago
I didn't say what the poem was about, did I?
The reason for the picture of David Brent was merely because this poem appears on the cover of the DVD series of "The Office" Like Poetic Justice, y'know. Nothing more than a visual joke.
SpokenVerse 2 years ago
You have watched the David Brent skit on this poem, haven't you? I beginning to wonder if you understand the connection....
It's at the top of Related Videos.
SpokenVerse 2 years ago
its the quote from the office when david brent is reading the poem...
Strictwest 2 years ago
the cabbages are coming now? he's the only cabbage round here.
REAL HOT SALAMANDER
Strictwest 2 years ago 4
very nice, great poem
RaggedM88 2 years ago
i dont want to leave the house anymore.the sight of modern britian depresses me.
thedukeofantioch 2 years ago
Neat
peacemtn 3 years ago
he describes the hell hole of modern britian to perfection.
come friendly hale bop comet and fall on this whole slave pen of misery
thedukeofantioch 3 years ago
Perfect. Now its bogus Irish bars,Aussie bars, American bars as well as Tudor bars.
Rather than be educated by Betjeman we've resigned ourselves, indeed embraced hell even more.
pggtips 2 years ago
Excellent reading. Betjeman's my favourie poet.
GrandPrix55 3 years ago
I confess that I first heard this poem done by Ricky Gervais. His portrayal of a philistine par excellence is brillant.
He gets the cocky ignorance of that type, their devotion to the practical that makes Betjeman's complaints seem like ranting. Now, when Betjeman wrote this, wasn't the class of person he was revulsed by really coming into their own? And when did he pass?
The seventies, I believe. God, could he even write of the popular culture that's seized the reins now.
written12 3 years ago