Reimagining culture : histories, identities and the Gaelic renaissance / Sharon Macdonald.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Macdonald, Sharon.

Series:

Berg ethnic identities series

Berg ethnicity and identity series, 1354-3628

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Group identity.

Community life.

Scottish Gaelic language--Social aspects.

Scottish Gaelic language.

Skye, Island of (Scotland)--Civilization.

Skye, Island of (Scotland).

Scottish Gaelic language--Social aspects--Scotland--Skye, Island of.

Community life--Scotland--Skye, Island of.

Group identity--Scotland--Skye, Island of.

Scotland.

Physical Description:

xix, 297 pages : illustrations ; 23 cm.

Place of Publication:

Oxford ; New York : Berg, 1997.

Summary:

Since the 1960s, policies to 'revive' minority cultures and languages have flourished. But what does it mean to have a 'cultural identity'? And are minorities as deeply attached to their languages and traditions as revival policies suppose? This book is a sophisticated analysis of responses to the 'Gaelic renaissance' in a Scottish Hebridean community. Its description of everyday conceptions of belonging and interpretations of cultural policy takes us into the world of Gaelic playgroups, crofting, local history, religion and community development. Historically and theoretically informed, this book challenges many of the ways in which we conventionally think about ethnic and national identity. This accessible and engaging account of life in this remote region of Europe provides an original and timely contribution to questions of considerable currency in a broad range of social science disciplines.

Contents:

1 'A Quest for Culture': On Anthropology, Authenticity and Ambivalence 1

Part I Histories

2 'Our Language, Our Heritage': Imagining Gaelic Culture 33

3 'The Crofting Community': Land, Religion and the Formation of the Highland People 67

Part II Identities

4 'A Way of Life': Crofting, Tradition and People 101

5 'Being Part of the Place': On Belonging 129

6 'The Last Bastion': The Highland Churches 163

Part III Cultural Renaissance

7 'From Strength to Strength': Community Revival 193

8 'Saving the Gaelic': Language Revival and Identity 217

9 Reflections on Reimagining 245.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 259-276) and indexes.

ISBN:

1859739806

1859739857

OCLC:

38258793