Images Scotia from Enlightenment to Kailyard

Journalists, historians and fake historians novelists have written of Scotland’s victimhood and of the false romantic myth-making of the Kailyard school of writing.Tom Devine is highly critical of the John Prebble books ( Glencoe, Culloden,  Highland Clearances) which are often on display by the National Trust for Scotland at key historical sites such as Culloden, Burns Alloway cottage, Edinburgh castle and more.

Journalist Lesley Riddoch writes, “Scots ignore what’s truly distinctive and successful about their culture, hero worship the very long dead (Wallace and Bruce) skip the interviewing period and despair about the future.”

 

Visit Scotland, who are set up to promote Scottish tourism, recently displayed on its website neon images by artist Professor Ross Sinclair, which were shown at the Glasgow gallery of modern art (GoMA) 2015 and 2016. The one sign objected to stated, “We love the highland clearances” We love Bonnie Prince Charlie”

Charles Edward Stuart

All the romantic myth-making, famously by Walter Scott, was to portray a Scotland that is gone and lost forever1800s. According to political theorist Tom Nairn, while the rest of Europe was pursuing nationalism 1800s, as a way for the bourgeoisie to encourage the workers of their nation to rise up against the “Uneven nature of capitalism.” Only Scotland was left behind and totally missed this upsurge, as Scotland after union had already transformed early 1700s after union. From a backward feudal nation to a progressive enlightenment (the Scottish enlightenment late 1700s). I paraphrase here Nairn’s highly readable academic work The Break up of Britain.

 

There is this split personality of Scotland’s that shows today in the 50/50 spilt over Scotland independent future. The Sinclair images are shocking and continue to promote this backward risk adverse Scotland and this false cringe and victimhood. 

 

Where is the pride?

Where is the real authentic Scotland? Where is the Scotland we have all forgotten?

The heart often rules the head when we decide who to support. 

 

The controversial painting Monarch of the Glen, a majestic stag surrounded by en empty glen, devoid of people and trees, provoked debate on what Scotland’s lands became, after Queen Victoria set up her holiday home at Balmoral estate. The Tory Scotland or the Jacobite myths and Jacobin reformers. The founding father of democracy and equal rights. 

 

Or the scientific achievements; the Scottish enlightenment; Robert Burns songs of shared humanity or Walter Scott’s myth-making Scotland; Scotland as traders and seafarers.