The distinction of Scotland in literary identity was claimed in the 1920s by Hugh MacDiarmid as the rebuilding of political sovereignty in the country. Now, almost a hundred years later, the independence referendum focuses our attention on the relations of artistic exploration and political unrest. The relation between artistic exploration and political unrest has been apparent throughout the history of a democratic United Kingdom, in which the voting citizens of Scotland have been regularly disenfranchised. Professor Riach discusses the relations between cultural production civic government and social discourse, and their ramifications in a dialogue of Scottish national identity.Alan Riach is Professor of Scottish Literature at the University of Glasgow in Scotland, working in the fields of 20th century Scottish, Irish, American and post-colonial literatures, modern poetry, and creative writing. His critical writings have appeared in numerous books and journals internationally. Riach was Associate Professor of English and Pro-Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at the University of Waikato in New Zealand. Riach studied English at the University of Cambridge as an undergraduate, and then received his PhD in Scottish Literature at the University of Glasgow. For more information on the Foreign Relations Council visit their website.A complete list of available streaming videos can be found at citychannel4.com/video
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