The Chap
Encyclopedia
The Chap is a British
magazine published six times a year and related book
s edited by Gustav Temple, proposing a return to a dandified
way of life, involving tweed
, pipe smoking, brogues
and finely pressed trousers
. The magazine has featured such noted Chaps and Chapettes as Stephen Fry
, Leslie Phillips
, Sir Patrick Moore and Joanna Lumley
. The magazine celebrated its tenth anniversary in December 2009 with the Grand Anarcho-Dandyist Ball in London.
The "Chappists" propose a revolution based not on violence or bomb-throwing, but on dressing with panache, drinking fine beverages and behaving with courtesy, especially to those from whom courtesy is not forthcoming. They have organised protests against modern art installations and bland corporations such as Gap
, Starbucks
and Nike
, in addition to bland cities. Contributors have included Miss Martindale
and Michael "Atters" Attree.
While Chappism appreciates British culture and loves tradition, it is nonetheless rooted in the Situationist strand of anarchism
with more than the occasional nod to Dada
. It is also indebted to Monty Python
, Peter Cook
, Spike Milligan
and Viv Stanshall as much as it is to the avant-garde
.
As The Chap enters its second decade, the magazine continues to plough its Wodehousian view of England, while England itself appears to gradually be coming round to The Chap's philosophy, with the return of the moustache, the monocle, tweed clothing and night clubs celebrating 1930s glamour and 1940s austerity fashions.
The Chap hosts a popular annual Chap Olympiad, normally held in Bedford Square
Gardens, which is now in its 6th year.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
magazine published six times a year and related book
Book
A book is a set or collection of written, printed, illustrated, or blank sheets, made of hot lava, paper, parchment, or other materials, usually fastened together to hinge at one side. A single sheet within a book is called a leaf or leaflet, and each side of a leaf is called a page...
s edited by Gustav Temple, proposing a return to a dandified
Dandy
A dandy is a man who places particular importance upon physical appearance, refined language, and leisurely hobbies, pursued with the appearance of nonchalance in a cult of Self...
way of life, involving tweed
Tweed (cloth)
Tweed is a rough, unfinished woolen fabric, of a soft, open, flexible texture, resembling cheviot or homespun, but more closely woven. It is made in either plain or twill weave and may have a check or herringbone pattern...
, pipe smoking, brogues
Brogues
The Brogue is a style of low-heeled shoe or boot traditionally characterized by multiple-piece, sturdy leather uppers with decorative perforations and serration along the pieces' visible edges...
and finely pressed trousers
Trousers
Trousers are an item of clothing worn on the lower part of the body from the waist to the ankles, covering both legs separately...
. The magazine has featured such noted Chaps and Chapettes as Stephen Fry
Stephen Fry
Stephen John Fry is an English actor, screenwriter, author, playwright, journalist, poet, comedian, television presenter and film director, and a director of Norwich City Football Club. He first came to attention in the 1981 Cambridge Footlights Revue presentation "The Cellar Tapes", which also...
, Leslie Phillips
Leslie Phillips
Leslie Samuel Phillips, CBE is an English actor with a highly recognisable upper class accent. Originally known for his work as a comedy actor, Phillips subsequently made the transition to character roles.-Early life:...
, Sir Patrick Moore and Joanna Lumley
Joanna Lumley
Joanna Lamond Lumley, OBE, FRGS is a British actress, voice-over artist, former-model and author, best known for her roles in British television series Absolutely Fabulous portraying Edina Monsoon's best friend, Patsy Stone, as well as parts in The New Avengers, Sapphire & Steel, and Sensitive...
. The magazine celebrated its tenth anniversary in December 2009 with the Grand Anarcho-Dandyist Ball in London.
The "Chappists" propose a revolution based not on violence or bomb-throwing, but on dressing with panache, drinking fine beverages and behaving with courtesy, especially to those from whom courtesy is not forthcoming. They have organised protests against modern art installations and bland corporations such as Gap
Gap (clothing retailer)
The Gap, Inc. is an American clothing and accessories retailer based in San Francisco, California, and founded in 1969 by Donald G. Fisher and Doris F. Fisher. The company has five primary brands: the namesake Gap banner, Banana Republic, Old Navy, Piperlime and Athleta. As of September 2008,...
, Starbucks
Starbucks
Starbucks Corporation is an international coffee and coffeehouse chain based in Seattle, Washington. Starbucks is the largest coffeehouse company in the world, with 17,009 stores in 55 countries, including over 11,000 in the United States, over 1,000 in Canada, over 700 in the United Kingdom, and...
and Nike
Nike, Inc.
Nike, Inc. is a major publicly traded sportswear and equipment supplier based in the United States. The company is headquartered near Beaverton, Oregon, which is part of the Portland metropolitan area...
, in addition to bland cities. Contributors have included Miss Martindale
Miss Martindale
Marianne Martindale is anEnglish writer andcolumnist. AsMiss Martindale, she is the public face of Aristasia, the "Feminine Empire", an all-female subculture, in which the two sexes are "blonde" and "brunette"...
and Michael "Atters" Attree.
While Chappism appreciates British culture and loves tradition, it is nonetheless rooted in the Situationist strand of anarchism
Anarchism
Anarchism is generally defined as the political philosophy which holds the state to be undesirable, unnecessary, and harmful, or alternatively as opposing authority in the conduct of human relations...
with more than the occasional nod to Dada
Dada
Dada or Dadaism is a cultural movement that began in Zurich, Switzerland, during World War I and peaked from 1916 to 1922. The movement primarily involved visual arts, literature—poetry, art manifestoes, art theory—theatre, and graphic design, and concentrated its anti-war politics through a...
. It is also indebted to Monty Python
Monty Python
Monty Python was a British surreal comedy group who created their influential Monty Python's Flying Circus, a British television comedy sketch show that first aired on the BBC on 5 October 1969. Forty-five episodes were made over four series...
, Peter Cook
Peter Cook
Peter Edward Cook was an English satirist, writer and comedian. An extremely influential figure in modern British comedy, he is regarded as the leading light of the British satire boom of the 1960s. He has been described by Stephen Fry as "the funniest man who ever drew breath," although Cook's...
, Spike Milligan
Spike Milligan
Terence Alan Patrick Seán "Spike" Milligan Hon. KBE was a comedian, writer, musician, poet, playwright, soldier and actor. His early life was spent in India, where he was born, but the majority of his working life was spent in the United Kingdom. He became an Irish citizen in 1962 after the...
and Viv Stanshall as much as it is to the avant-garde
Avant-garde
Avant-garde means "advance guard" or "vanguard". The adjective form is used in English to refer to people or works that are experimental or innovative, particularly with respect to art, culture, and politics....
.
As The Chap enters its second decade, the magazine continues to plough its Wodehousian view of England, while England itself appears to gradually be coming round to The Chap's philosophy, with the return of the moustache, the monocle, tweed clothing and night clubs celebrating 1930s glamour and 1940s austerity fashions.
The Chap hosts a popular annual Chap Olympiad, normally held in Bedford Square
Bedford Square
Bedford Square is a square in the Bloomsbury district of the Borough of Camden in London, England.Built between 1775 and 1783 as an upper middle class residential area, the sqare has had many distinguished residents, including Lord Eldon, one of Britain's longest serving and most celebrated Lord...
Gardens, which is now in its 6th year.
External links
- Official website of The Chap magazine
- CurrentTV documentary about The Chap
- Interview with Gustav Temple
- Evening Standard feature about The Chap and Steampunk