"The Village Green Preservation Society" vs. "Arthur, or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire"

yeah like col blimp ive always imagined arthur as a stock character meant to stand in for a certain sociopolitical ideology, but a character in the 'story' of the album nonetheless.

thinking about it more, maybe it works better for me to think of it as instructive via the narrator's POV. Like Col Blimp the film is instructive in the sense of presenting a lesson in overcoming bad & stuck thinking, showing how you too can change with the times like Blimp. Whereas even though Arthur the character doesnt seem to really change in the 'story', maybe the album is intended as instructive in the sense of "heres how you the listener can learn to love & empathize with this type of sad person who will never change, instead of looking down on them." Maybe Ray is saying dont be such a dick to your parents because capitalism fucked them over too.

ty for joining me on this journey where i publicly figure out the obvious messages of this 50y/o rock album for teenagers, pls follow me to my substack for more great content

If my surmise is correct and the TV play originally featured dramatic scenes interspersed with the Kinks playing, that could explain why the lyrics alone could seem condescending. It would be different if we saw and heard the character and his interactions with others, with the songs as a Greek chorus.
From the songs and liner notes, Arthur never seemed to me to be an Archie Bunker type, more a confused person who hadn't figured himself out until the late-life epiphanies indicated on the record.

this album is as relevant to British society now as it has ever been imo

Ray Davies' own background is pretty different from the person he's singing about in "Shangri La", poorer and more precarious, so I suspect there is some sarcasm (and chippinss) there.

Or even chippiness.

Nowadays, Arthur probably couldn't afford a house, and he'd be working as a 70 year-old delivery driver.