The Alienation Effect

In the 1930s, countless central Europeans fled from fascism, seeking refuge in Britain. They found an island that, though wetter and more quaint than the vibrant cities of Weimar Berlin and Red Vienna, offered safety and a place to call home. These émigrés did not arrive empty-handed; they carried with them revolutionary ideas that would reshape British culture. Owen Hatherley, a historian, explores this cultural transformation, highlighting the impact of individuals like celebrated architect Erno Goldfinger and sociologist Ruth Glass. In this encounter between European modernism and British conservatism, the imagination of the nation was profoundly altered for the better. Referring to what Bertolt Brecht termed the Verfremdungseffekt, or ‘alienation effect,’ the émigrés not only introduced a new perspective but also, in a sense, turned the British into strangers in their own land. Through "The Alienation Effect," readers are invited to recognize the enduring influence of these immigrants, who have shaped many of the British symbols cherished today. Hatherley’s narrative is provocative and enlightening, urging a celebration and revitalization of the enduring commitment to providing asylum.