Stewart Lee on the Metropolitan Liberal Elite (Content Provider)

Summary

The transcript showcases a stand-up comedy routine that humorously critiques the 'out-of-touch metropolitan liberal elites' and their misunderstanding of Brexit. The comedian highlights their detachment from the working-class reality, mocking their elite lifestyles, like brunching in Islington and using spiralizers. The comic also touches on the challenges of creating content in a divided post-Brexit Britain, where political divides influence audience reactions. The tone is witty, self-aware, and aimed at poking fun at both political sides, with a focus on the contradictions and absurdities within British society.

Takeaways

• 😀 The script begins by discussing the concept of 'out-of-touch metropolitan liberal elites', referring to a certain segment of society disconnected from the realities of people outside major urban areas.
• 😀 The 'metropolitan liberal elite' is characterized as being unaware of the issues that matter to people in more working-class areas, specifically in the context of the Brexit vote.
• 😀 The speaker mentions Garry Bushell's definition of metropolitan elites, even tying it humorously to a broader cultural commentary about societal attitudes.
• 😀 The metropolitan liberal elites are described as people who may have once supported the Labour Party in the 90s but are now depicted as disconnected and out of touch with the real struggles of common folk.
• 😀 The speaker humorously references a particular view of the elite in North London (N16), emphasizing their disconnection by showing how they wrongly predicted the outcome of the Brexit vote based on their social circle's views.
• 😀 There’s a recurring theme in the script of irony, where the elites, with their upscale activities (e.g., brunch in gastro pubs), are shown to be clueless about the larger political shifts happening around them.
• 😀 A key humorous element is the mention of the spiralizer, a kitchen gadget, used as a symbol of the trivial and disconnected lifestyle of the elites, who are out of touch with real issues.
• 😀 The script plays with this idea of the elites being so removed from reality that even simple things like the shape of a courgette (zucchini) are used as metaphors for their detached lives.
• 😀 The speaker shares their personal experience, acknowledging their position as a content provider with a left-liberal stance, yet struggling to write material that resonates in a deeply divided Brexit-era Britain.
• 😀 The script concludes with the challenge of touring a stand-up show in a post-Brexit world, illustrating the difficulty in appealing to an audience that has vastly different political and social views, even within the same country.

Q & A

Who are the 'metropolitan liberal elites' mentioned in the script?

The 'metropolitan liberal elites' are a term used to describe a group of people, often associated with affluent, left-wing individuals who live in urban areas, particularly in cities like London. The speaker critiques them for being out of touch with the realities of the working-class and rural population, especially regarding the Brexit vote.

What is the speaker's criticism of the 'metropolitan liberal elites'?

The speaker criticizes the 'metropolitan liberal elites' for being disconnected from the general public, especially in their assumptions about the Brexit vote. The elites are portrayed as being unaware of the sentiments of the wider population, particularly in smaller towns and cities.

What is the significance of the Brexit vote in the context of the script?

The Brexit vote is central to the script as it highlights the divide between the 'out-of-touch' metropolitan elites and the broader population. The elites, who live in cities like London, underestimated the likelihood of Brexit, and the speaker suggests that this disconnect played a role in the outcome.

What does the speaker mean by the term 'spiralizer' in the script?

The 'spiralizer' refers to a kitchen gadget used to turn vegetables, like courgettes, into spiral shapes. In the script, it's used humorously to mock the metropolitan elite's obsession with trendy, niche items, symbolizing their detachment from practical, everyday concerns.

How does the speaker use humor to criticize the 'metropolitan liberal elites'?

The speaker uses sarcasm and humor to portray the 'metropolitan liberal elites' as out-of-touch and pretentious. The mention of the spiralizer, for example, is a joke about how elites care more about trends than real-world issues. Additionally, the speaker mocks their attitudes towards the Brexit vote, suggesting that they were blind to its potential outcome.

What role does location play in the speaker’s argument about the Brexit vote?

Location plays a key role in the speaker’s argument as it highlights the difference between urban areas, particularly London, and rural or smaller towns. The speaker mentions living in North London, a so-called 'elite' area, where people were unaware of the broader discontent with the European Union, which contributed to their failure to predict Brexit.

How does the speaker view their own position in relation to the Brexit debate?

The speaker acknowledges that they are a content provider in a liberal, center-left position, and have done well in their career as a stand-up comedian. However, they also express the difficulty of creating a show that appeals to a divided Brexit Britain, recognizing that their own political stance may not resonate with everyone.

What is the significance of the mention of 'Harrogate, Oxford, Cambridge, Glasgow' in the script?

These cities are mentioned to emphasize the challenge of crafting a one-size-fits-all stand-up show. The speaker points out that different locations have different political and social attitudes, with some cities more favorable to a center-left position, while others may react negatively. The diversity in audience reactions demonstrates the divide caused by Brexit.

What does the phrase 'round of applause' followed by 'glass in the face' suggest?

This phrase juxtaposes the expected response of applause with a more aggressive reaction, symbolizing how the speaker's comedy and political views might be received very differently in various parts of the country. A 'round of applause' indicates support, while 'glass in the face' suggests hostility or disagreement.

How does the speaker’s background in stand-up comedy influence their perspective on Brexit?

As a stand-up comedian with a center-left, liberal viewpoint, the speaker finds it challenging to create content that resonates with the divided opinions in post-Brexit Britain. Their job requires them to understand and address diverse viewpoints, and the divide created by Brexit makes this task even more complex.