Status Anxiety

23 August 2008

New York’s Eurotrash exude a preening self- regard that makes me sick to my stomach

In New York, the big story of the summer is that the Eurotrash are back. Thanks to the weak dollar, rich Europeans have been descending on the city by the jet-load, irritating the locals by referring to ludicrously overpriced luxury goods as ‘bargains’. To add insult to injury, some shops have even put up signs saying, ‘We accept euros.’ The rapper Jay-Z seems to have caught the new mood. In his latest video, he is filmed cruising the streets of New York clutching a fistful of the European banknotes.

Among the expat community, the resurgence of the Eurotrash is a source of some irritation. The issue is not that the Brits have to join the natives in doffing their caps to the French and the Italians. On the contrary, as far as New Yorkers are concerned, the term ‘Eurotrash’ includes the British — and therein lies the problem. I know from having lived in Manhattan during the Eurotrash’s first incarnation in the mid-1990s that you constantly have to point out that there’s a world of difference between the residents of the British Isles and the rest of Europe and that, strictly speaking, the term ‘Eurotrash’ only applies to the latter. I lost count of the number of times I had to explain to Americans why the following headline was funny: ‘Storm in Channel — Continent Isolated’. As far as they are concerned, Europe is just one country, no different from the United States.

This time round, two enterprising expats have come up with a clever way of reminding their hosts that the United Kingdom is a separate country with a distinct cultural identity: they want to rename part of Manhattan ‘Little Britain’. Gill Linton and Rupert Newton, two branding specialists, have launched a campaign to persuade the City of New York to designate the area around Greenwich Avenue an official British colony. ‘There’s a Little Italy and a Little India,’ says Newton. ‘Why not a Little Britain?’

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Walter Ellis

August 21st, 2008 9:24pm Report this comment

What is WRONG with Toby Young? He excoriated Americans when he lived in New York. Now he seems to want them to know that he's sorry and that "Europeans" are the true vulgarians. Why can't he just enjoy the success his modest talents have brought him and stop explaining the failings of those who aren't lucky enough to be him?

Heather Duke

August 22nd, 2008 5:17pm Report this comment

Give it up, Toby. Maybe 20 years ago someone in New York City still thought you people were classy. Times change and we've all learned about chavs over here. Lumped in with the Eurotrash, at least some people may think you know how to accessorize.

David Preiser

August 26th, 2008 1:48am Report this comment

I buy my tea at Tea & Sympathy. I hope it stays in business for a long time. And you forgot to mention the fish & chip shop next door, "A Salt and Battery". But don't worry, Toby, we foolish United Statesians can easily distinguish the Eurotrash from your lot: they're the ones who aren't roaring drunk and fighting in the beer bars downtown.

An Italian American

October 9th, 2008 10:32pm Report this comment

No, the whole of America is not "little Britian." You might be surprised to learn that a large part of America's greatness is due to the contributions of "oily" Eurotrash. Its laughable that you, as an Englishman, wish to hold some special status in America. Such aristocratic and imperialistic ideals are part of the reason that America exists in the first place. The Britains are not "first among equals," but merely equals in our great society. So if you don't like it, shove it up your arse!