COM 220T Symbolizing Scottish Folk
Concurrent with processes of globalization, there has been a fervent, if not reactionary, revival of folk culture. Although the reinvention of folk cultures is a global phenomenon, it is particularly salient in places like Scotland—a complex nation that is as much British, modern, and Western as it is local, artisanal and traditional. Longstanding clashes over regional independence, enduring ties to local geographies and customs, and a thriving tourism industry in Scotland, have sustained rich folk cultures that serve both as powerful sources of identification as well as seductive expressions of national identity and culture. Using discursive and rhetorical approaches, this course explores the various ways in which "folk" identities, practices, cultures, and artifacts are represented and mobilized in the Scottish context by various communities and stakeholders.