The Folklore of Northern Scotland: Five Discourses on Cultural Representation

摘要: How is it possible to do justice, in the limits of this lecture, folklore Northern Scotland, a relatively vast, unevenly populated area--roughly one sixth land area British mainland--that stretches from Iona west Unst Shetland Isles, Angus and Perthshire glens Outer Hebrides? It would be easy, I suppose, if superficial repetitive, summarise that has been amassed over two half centuries. less but probably more instructive, survey lore spread region as result extensive prolonged emigration same period. also useful, no doubt, discuss work students past century half, John Francis Campbell Islay Lorne Canna, Gregorson Walter Gregor or Margaret Fay Shaw, even obscure Janet Henderson Wick, who towards end last wrote Folklore Society offering them book on Caithness folklore.(1) Finally, given need rethink our concepts methods time time, we might review, with special attention changing notions folklife, ethnology, material culture, oral tradition, like. Recent discussions have taken place relationship between ethnology (Fenton 1993) identity (Oring, Kirshenblatt-Gimblett Glassie 1994). Folklorists still grapple terminology they trace lineage current meaning "keywords" such art, text, group, performance, genre, context (Feintuch 1995). To these should certainly added usages recent vintage, heritage cultural tourism (see Fladmark 1993; 1994; Brewer Wells 1996). Relating sort contemporary Scottish traditions daunting not unmanageable task.(2) But prefer something different set forth what see discourses constructed around Scotland. use term "discourse" because implicitly rejects idea solely product communal imagination individual aesthetic sense. Rather, production intimately related power relations society, economic factors, public institutions academic disciplines Tilley 1991, 153). My justification for stance lies huge population shifts merely twenty-five years hundred fifty years, abuse Highlands particular by human agency "improvers" absentee landowners. The first displacements was due coming North Sea Oil 1965 immigration into East associated it; second upheaval Highland Clearances, mid-nineteenth potato famine better known Ireland, improvement (Devine 1988). Older elsewhere ago, tended dwell its decline change progress--the "devolutionary premise" Alan Dundes identified explaining supposed folk (1969). declaration, 1835, Cromarty stonemason folklorist Hugh Miller typical: "I stream tradition rapidly lessening flows onward, displaying ... broader powerful volume source" (Quoted Dorson 1968, 31). That concept devolving diminishing embodied older notion survivals an earlier stage historical source. Ultimately, want contrast newer challenges affect folklore: namely, continuity emergent feature life. …