Scottish national identity is largely based on the relationship it has with England – the colonization and emancipation of the Scots being a huge factor in the development of national pride and subsequently national identity. The Declaration of Arbroath, 1320, was a statement designed and implemented after the Scots’ victory over England at the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314. This declaration was an attempt to create peace between England and Scotland, two nations intermittently at war since 1296 (Davidson: 2000: 48). The two main points of the declaration were to allow for Scotland to be considered in her own right a distinctive and independent nation, and the second for the ‘rulers’ of the nation to exist solely to provide for the community, and not vice versa. It is an identity, it is argued, that has been shaped by many icons, symbols and myths, and has been passed down through Generations of Scots, proving to be a learned identity.
There are lots of political, social and historical factors related with Scottish national identiy; for example the Education, Religion, Healthcare and Political structures differ greatly from the rest of the world, and more notably from England. Scotland enjoys her own education system, a less right-wing church structure and governmental policy that stands out as globally recognized. Are we more patriotic than other nations? Do we merely hold on to the idea that Scotland was once a nation with its own identity rather than one that had been forcibly Anglicanised.
Historical Inaccuracies It could be argued that our national identity and the way other countries view us as a country is actually based on factual inaccuracies.
In the Battle of Culloden, fought in 1746, Charles and the Jacobites raised support for his rising amongst the Highland clans, believing bonnie Prince Charlie was the rightful heir to the thrown.The bulk of these men were forced to join by their clan chiefs, landlords or feudal superiors. Although not all clans were loyal to his cause, with many openly supporting the Hanoverians (opposition). The majority of lowland Scotland is also thought to have opposed the Jacobite rising. This is actually very different o my impression of events, which I simply and ignorantly thought it was a feud between Scotland and England. In fact the Jacobites were reinforced with units of French regulars. These units, like Fitzjames' Horse, and the Irish Picquets, were drawn from the Irish Brigade (Irish units in French service). In fact, Fitzjames' Horse was mostly made up of English troops—not Irish. The clans which supported the Jacobite cause tended to be Roman Catholic while clans which tended to be Presbyterian sided more with the British government. So it could be argued that even centuries ago our identity was rooted more locally and reliant on many other factors, and not just our country of birth and residence.
The great divide Is our identity as a nation more constructed with our feuds and dislikes of other nations. This can be related
Old Firm Rivals Celtic FC and Rangers FC
to feuds between nations on a global scale as well as gang fighting in inner cities on a local level This is also shown with the rivalry between celtic and rangers. The old firm is more than a simple sporting rivalry. It is infused with a series of complex disputes, sometimes centered on religion (Catholic and Protestant) and Northern Ireland-related politics (Loyalist and Republican). Many sectarians are unaware or factually inaccurate of origins of dispute but carry on the feud manly through routine and heritage. Are we programmed to hate and fight as part of national identity construction, no matter what the cause is aslong as their tis a cuase to belong to?
Who do you think you are On holiday I would imagin many people, including myself would associate yourself with Glasgow before Scotland. This may be dependednt on livin in a large city and may change depending on where in Scotland you stay, i.e. a living in smaller town etc you are more likely to say Scotland, does this make you feel more ScottishToday our identity is less identified with our country of origin rather than our links with religious or social groups, this could be because of incresed globalisation through television and the internet.
In the past in the era of Scottish clan we perhaps identified more with the clan tartan or name rather than Scotland as a whole. This could show that perhaps we have more pride for our local heritage and les assosiation eith the nation as a whole
Ode to a tartan Our dialect crafts our identity; it is a fundamental aspect of what makes us who we are. It allows for people of other areas and countries to instantly tell our background and thus who we are as an individual. Our variety of different dialects shows the diversity in the country, which again could give us more pride of our city or village.
Trainspotting being subtitled removed arguably the most genius part of the film, the Scottishness of the script, and the endearing Scottish way it was spoken, which was the fundamental aspect of the films tone. However with Braveheart and Rob Roy the emphasis was not on the dialect to the extent of Trainspotting, thus did not affect the film in any way
Scottish Gaelic has a rich tradition in Scotland, but today the language is diminishing and mainly found in the highlands. The 2001 UK Census showed a total of 58,652 Gaelic speakers in Scotland Compared to the 1991 Census, there has been a diminution of approximately 11% . Today it is less important to hold on to the Scottish language in many people’s eyes which shows a decline in many people’s views on what it means to be Scottish, thus less importance is put on traditional Scottish identity
Scotland on screen Do you expect to see certain things in Scottish Films?
Brigadoon is great fun if you have little concern for cultural authenticity. The show is a good-natured, if fanciful, interpretation of all the nice things that North Americans imagine about Scotland, replete with swinging kilts, bonnie lassies, droning bagpipes, Highland flings and Heather on the Hill (another of the songs from this light but enduring musical.) This stereotype fine when taking with a pinch of salt and appreciated
Peter Mullan in Young Adam
for the fun that was intended.
However it could be dependent on reference point and what the film is portraying Would it be kilts and ginger beards, Highland scenery, clydesidism with hard working gritty characters, or perhaps some sort of new modern discourse?
When you think of Scottish films do you think of it in terms of films such as Trainspotting, small faces and sweet sixteen, where they are dealing with real social issues that affect a modern Scotland. Or do ideas of the glorified kilt warring brave warrior spring to mind first with films such as Braveheart or Rob Roy What does it mean to you Do you have pride for Scotland as a country, or are you fonder of where you are from on a local level?
How much has the history of Scotland, fact or fiction evoked your sense of national pride?
Scottish national identity is largely based on the relationship it has with England – the colonization and emancipation of the Scots being a huge factor in the development of national pride and subsequently national identity. The Declaration of Arbroath, 1320, was a statement designed and implemented after the Scots’ victory over England at the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314. This declaration was an attempt to create peace between England and Scotland, two nations intermittently at war since 1296 (Davidson: 2000: 48). The two main points of the declaration were to allow for Scotland to be considered in her own right a distinctive and independent nation, and the second for the ‘rulers’ of the nation to exist solely to provide for the community, and not vice versa.
It is an identity, it is argued, that has been shaped by many icons, symbols and myths, and has been passed down through Generations of Scots, proving to be a learned identity.
There are lots of political, social and historical factors related with Scottish national identiy; for example the Education, Religion, Healthcare and Political structures differ greatly from the rest of the world, and more notably from England. Scotland enjoys her own education system, a less right-wing church structure and governmental policy that stands out as globally recognized.
Are we more patriotic than other nations? Do we merely hold on to the idea that Scotland was once a nation with its own identity rather than one that had been forcibly Anglicanised.
Historical Inaccuracies
It could be argued that our national identity and the way other countries view us as a country is actually based on factual inaccuracies.
In the Battle of Culloden, fought in 1746, Charles and the Jacobites raised support for his rising amongst the Highland clans, believing bonnie Prince Charlie was the rightful heir to the thrown.The bulk of these men were forced to join by their clan chiefs, landlords or feudal superiors. Although not all clans were loyal to his cause, with many openly supporting the Hanoverians (opposition). The majority of lowland Scotland is also thought to have opposed the Jacobite rising. This is actually very different o my impression of events, which I simply and ignorantly thought it was a feud between Scotland and England. In fact the Jacobites were reinforced with units of French regulars. These units, like Fitzjames' Horse, and the Irish Picquets, were drawn from the Irish Brigade (Irish units in French service). In fact, Fitzjames' Horse was mostly made up of English troops—not Irish. The clans which supported the Jacobite cause tended to be Roman Catholic while clans which tended to be Presbyterian sided more with the British government. So it could be argued that even centuries ago our identity was rooted more locally and reliant on many other factors, and not just our country of birth and residence.
The great divide
Is our identity as a nation more constructed with our feuds and dislikes of other nations. This can be related
Who do you think you are
On holiday I would imagin many people, including myself would associate yourself with Glasgow before Scotland. This may be dependednt on livin in a large city and may change depending on where in Scotland you stay, i.e. a living in smaller town etc you are more likely to say Scotland, does this make you feel more ScottishToday our identity is less identified with our country of origin rather than our links with religious or social groups, this could be because of incresed globalisation through television and the internet.
In the past in the era of Scottish clan we perhaps identified more with the clan tartan or name rather than Scotland as a whole. This could show that perhaps we have more pride for our local heritage and les assosiation eith the nation as a whole
Ode to a tartan
Our
Trainspotting being subtitled removed arguably the most genius part of the film, the Scottishness of the script, and the endearing Scottish way it was spoken, which was the fundamental aspect of the films tone. However with Braveheart and Rob Roy the emphasis was not on the dialect to the extent of Trainspotting, thus did not affect the film in any way
Scottish Gaelic has a rich tradition in Scotland, but today the language is diminishing and mainly found in the highlands. The 2001 UK Census showed a total of 58,652 Gaelic speakers in Scotland Compared to the 1991 Census, there has been a diminution of approximately 11% . Today it is less important to hold on to the Scottish language in many people’s eyes which shows a decline in many people’s views on what it means to be Scottish, thus less importance is put on traditional Scottish identity
Scotland on screen
Do you expect to see certain things in Scottish Films?
Brigadoon is great fun if you have little concern for cultural authenticity. The show is a good-natured, if fanciful, interpretation of all the nice things that North Americans imagine about Scotland, replete with swinging kilts, bonnie lassies, droning bagpipes, Highland flings and Heather on the Hill (another of the songs from this light but enduring musical.) This stereotype fine when taking with a pinch of salt and appreciated
However it could be dependent on reference point and what the film is portraying Would it be kilts and ginger beards, Highland scenery, clydesidism with hard working gritty characters, or perhaps some sort of new modern discourse?
When you think of Scottish films do you think of it in terms of films such as Trainspotting, small faces and sweet sixteen, where they are dealing with real social issues that affect a modern Scotland. Or do ideas of the glorified kilt warring brave warrior spring to mind first with films such as Braveheart or Rob Roy
What does it mean to you
Do you have pride for Scotland as a country, or are you fonder of where you are from on a local level?
How much has the history of Scotland, fact or fiction evoked your sense of national pride?