‘The Story behind The Crown: Elizabeth II and English Culture’ was held on November 24, 2022. The event, hosted by Prof. Jingyue Wu and Prof. Zhen Gong, was part of the second annual Shanghaitech Humanities Festival and attracted an audience of more than thirty from students and faculty members.
The Crown, a Netflix hit series that first aired in November 2016 and is now in its fifth season, chronicles the personal story of Elizabeth II since her ascension to the throne in 1952 and how the British Monarchy continuously adapts and reinvents itself in the face of a changing and, at times, turbulent world.
After watching a documentary on Elizabeth II with the audience, the two professors delineated the historical and cultural background of the British Monarchy in general and Elizabeth II in particular and shared amusing anecdotes of the late British queen, revealing the true historical figure behind the fictional treatment of The Crown.
The event featured lively discussions and deepened students’ understanding of Elizabeth II and the English culture during her reign.