By the time this seminar begins, the referendum on Scottish independence (September 18) will have taken place. Regardless of whether Scotland becomes independent or remains a part of the United Kingdom, the surrounding debate and its background is worth investigating more closely.
We will begin by considering which social and political issues are/have been debated in Scotland, by whom, and also how the debate has reflected and influenced UK-wide discourse about British society and identity. The theoretical ground of nationalism and its facets will be covered along the way.
In the second half of the semester, we will turn to specific concerns in cultural representations of Scotland. This involves combining a look at the cultural and the media landscape, including issues of language and diversity, with suitable examples from Scottish literature and film.
You will be expected to actively participate, by preparing mandatory texts and smaller presentations, in order to be able to take part in class discussions. The nature of the obligatory term paper will be discussed in class. |
