Scottish Myths
I'm now finishing week 2 of this 3-week futurelearn online course:
THE SCOTTISH HIGHLAND CLANS: ORIGINS, DECLINE AND TRANSFORMATION
I've lost count of how many people are on the course: over 600. From all over the world. People who claim Scottish ancestry, are Scottish or are just interested in the history of the clans. The course comes from Glasgow University and has some excellent presenters.
But the most striking aspect for me is that the myths about Scotland, the Scots and the Highlands in particular, are the same all over the globe.
Clan Scotland was a land of castles, tartan and bagpipes.
The clans - right up till the mid 18th century - were some sort of glorious cooperative, a commune if you like.
The Highlands and Islands were either a barren waste where nothing grew or an earthly paradise ruined by the introduction of sheep.
The lovely churches we see all over Scotland were built for the people by their clan chiefs.
The bagpipes were banned by the government.
During the Highland Clearances, the people were forced off the land, put on ships and taken all over the world to colonise the British Empire.
In three weeks, the presenters are not going to be able to correct these ideas. Some of the other participants are very knowledgeable and try to keep folk right. Of course, the notion of a native and innocent people living in splendid isolation above the Highland Line is very good for tourism. I've never watched Outlander but I can see it's had an influence on some people's ideas too.
So do the myths matter? We weren't far into the course before the notion of the tight-fisted Scot came up. I suppose every country has myths like these: Canadians are 'nice' and very polite; the French are rude; Germans are law-abiding and hard-working; Swedes are blond. I would only be worried about the Scottish myths if folk thought that's all there is to us. The course has taken the time to introduce participants to Scottish music and poetry.
That's some way from the things I've been asked in the USA, for example:
- You got castles in Scotland?
- Uh-huh.
- You got monsters in Scotland?
- Em, no.
- Oh, too bad!
THE SCOTTISH HIGHLAND CLANS: ORIGINS, DECLINE AND TRANSFORMATION
I've lost count of how many people are on the course: over 600. From all over the world. People who claim Scottish ancestry, are Scottish or are just interested in the history of the clans. The course comes from Glasgow University and has some excellent presenters.
But the most striking aspect for me is that the myths about Scotland, the Scots and the Highlands in particular, are the same all over the globe.
Clan Scotland was a land of castles, tartan and bagpipes.
The clans - right up till the mid 18th century - were some sort of glorious cooperative, a commune if you like.
The Highlands and Islands were either a barren waste where nothing grew or an earthly paradise ruined by the introduction of sheep.
The lovely churches we see all over Scotland were built for the people by their clan chiefs.
The bagpipes were banned by the government.
During the Highland Clearances, the people were forced off the land, put on ships and taken all over the world to colonise the British Empire.
In three weeks, the presenters are not going to be able to correct these ideas. Some of the other participants are very knowledgeable and try to keep folk right. Of course, the notion of a native and innocent people living in splendid isolation above the Highland Line is very good for tourism. I've never watched Outlander but I can see it's had an influence on some people's ideas too.
So do the myths matter? We weren't far into the course before the notion of the tight-fisted Scot came up. I suppose every country has myths like these: Canadians are 'nice' and very polite; the French are rude; Germans are law-abiding and hard-working; Swedes are blond. I would only be worried about the Scottish myths if folk thought that's all there is to us. The course has taken the time to introduce participants to Scottish music and poetry.
That's some way from the things I've been asked in the USA, for example:
- You got castles in Scotland?
- Uh-huh.
- You got monsters in Scotland?
- Em, no.
- Oh, too bad!
Hell yes we have monsters. There is ME
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