Scottish Life and Society: Oral Literature and Performance Culture

by John Beech, Owen Hand, Mark Mulhern, Jeremy Weston, Editor(s)

ISBN: 9780859766791
Imprint: John Donald
Publication Date: Aug 2007
Format: Hardback
Price: £45.00
Stock Status: in stock

SHORTLISTED FOR THE KATHARINE BRIGGS FOLKLORE AWARD

'This extensive volume provides an important insight into the expressive cultural traditions of the Scots' - Ian Russell, Oral History Journal

'An indespensible resource' - Lillis O Laoire, Besprechungen

The cultural motifs that have over the years been gathered together to constitute the National Song Book and National Drama are identified and discussed. In so doing, the role of ’tradition’ in these key aspects of the cultural life of the Scots is thrown into relief. It emerges that tradition and identity are cultural traits which are capable of bearing many meanings. The characterisation of ’tradition’ as the immutable source, unadulterated by human invention is challenged in this volume, and in its place is a recognition of the dynamic nature of many of those cultural forms which are described as ’traditional’.

This volume acts an ethnographic source in its own terms – drawing together details and insights regarding phenomena such as the Folk Revival of the 1950s and the collection and collectors of ’folk’ stories and songs. The impressive range of this volume demonstrates the many ways in which Scots have communicated and continue to communicate with each other regarding the local and national and the communal and the intimate concerns of yesterday, today and tomorrow.

Also available in the Scottish Life and Society series:

Vol. 6: Scotland’s Domestic Life
ISBN 0859766497, ?50.00

Vol. 11: Education
ISBN 1862321865, ?25

Vol. 12: Religious Expression
ISBN 0859766500, ?40

Vol. 14: Bibliography
ISBN 1862322414, ?50

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