Ojnab, the Royal Family may be billionaires, yet they do not publicise their generosity (during the Queen's reign) via ongoing donations to organisations and people around the world. The Royal Family have been the backbone of England and greatly contributed to their economy via wealth and employment in addition to numerous other positives.

Despite the social and marriage issues, this high profile central historical organisation has benefited millions of people globally for centuries and in particular the Poms.

For many who have met and known the Queen and the late Queen Mother, both were role models for some validated reasons.

It would be beneficial if the Queen agreed to an hour's interview regarding her role and work undertaken over the past 40 years of her life.

I would agree with weareunique.

The Queen is an icon. There has never been a war amongst commonwealth nations, and I think a lot of this is because of the Queen's influence.

As for culture, the UK currently has the lowest rate of marriage in its history, and the social ramifications of that have been immense, now culminating in an estimated 30% of children in the UK living near or below the poverty line.

Hopefully this marriage may encourage others to get married.

But none of this has been mentioned by the author.

The author seems to overlook this despite writing “So somebody has to do the dirty job of pointing out that all that pageantry is pushing copious amounts of important news and debate out of the public arena.”

I think university academics are becoming more bigoted and narrow minded in time.

'I'm told that there's a wedding in England today' - so a Professor of Cultural Research (!) pretends not to know about a much hyped cultural event. Says it all about his carping article really. Why drivel on about an event you despise? I'd love to know if a serious academic has looked at the costs and benefits of the royal family to the UK economy. I have a feeling they are worth every penny in brand recognition and tourist income. Pity the broadcasts were so poor compared to the Charles and Diana one, and the ceremony and bride and groom were so wooden, compared to Frederick and Mary. Perhaps Professor Rowe could write an article about the way milliners can take the mickey out of the upper crust by getting them to stick ridiculous things on their heads - now that's cultural research begging to be undertaken.

Candide,
I would agree with that too.

Why not write about a ceremony where people wear black coats and a black board on their heads so as to receive a piece of paper.

Why not just give them a piece of paper?

And why not write about an institution that publicises itself as having “a blend of neo-gothic sandstone history complete with gargoyles, cloisters and courtyards”
http://sydney.edu.au/future_students/why_sydney.shtml

Why not just have buildings?

The author has been totally selective, hypocritical and narrow minded in their article.

Not a good role model for students, but an example of how unreliable and untrustworthy academics in so-called Australian universities have become.

Candide,

"Perhaps Professor Rowe could write an article about the way milliners can take the mickey out of the upper crust by getting them to stick ridiculous things on their heads.".....hee hee! Very good comment.

- and isn't it interesting that in our culture it's the women who get to wear them (maybe an opportunity for vanna to expand upon)

Poriot,
If you want a model for an organisation that attempts to “unite its members: democracy, freedom, peace, the rule of law and opportunity for all”, then such a model exists.

It is the Commonwealth of Nations, headed by the Queen, with no war every occurring between member states.

If you want a model for a system that raises children with a minimal of poverty, abuse and neglect, then that model exists, and it is called marriage.

http://www.nytimes.com/1995/04/10/us/studies-find-big-benefits-in-marriage.html

The author doesn't mention any of this, but like so many academics in our so-called universities, the author attempts to attack the British empire, and also attack marriage.

The concept that universities in this country open people’s minds has no basis in reality.

They are highly bigoted and narrow minded organisations that purposely hide information if it doesn't suit their Marxist and feminist bias, while also attempting to extract as much money from the taxpayer as possible.