On 20th August 2017, the small village Wittental in the rural countryside of the Black Forest celebrated the tenth anniversary of hosting their traditional Highland games. According to a newspaper announcement the event was firstly introduced in 1999 and ever since has been organised by the local community every second year, offering sport competitions like the ‘Heavies’ as well as music, food and Scottish Whisky tasting. But why is an ancient Scottish tradition practised in the South of Germany? Is it an example of the Highland games being used by Scottish people to identify with their origins and Scotland? Or is it simply an invented marketing idea to promote a sport event of a remote Black Forest village aiming at attracting visitors through a well-known name?
This paper will concentrate on the Scottish Highland games in Scotland as well as in other parts of the world. Despite the fact that they are separated from their original background and could be seen as an invented tradition by the British, there is reason to classify them as heritage as well. Albeit their hybrid form between invented tradition and heritage, Scottish people all over the world hold on to the Scottish Highland games as they have the ability to create the basis for a common identity. To explain this, in the following the ideas of ‘Heritage’ and ‘Invented Tradition’ will shortly be introduced, a historic background of the event’s development throughout the centuries will be given and all this information will be applied in an analysis of the Highland games.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Defining Heritage, Invented Tradition and the Development of the Highland Games throughout the Centuries
2.1. A Definition of Heritage
2.2. The Invention of Tradition
2.3. History of the Scottish Highland Games
3. The Highland Games between Heritage and Invented Tradition
3.1. Aspects of Heritage
3.2. Aspects of Invented Tradition
3.3. The Highland Games: a Hybrid of Heritage and Invented Tradition
4. Identity Formation
5. Conclusion
Objectives and Themes
This paper examines the Scottish Highland Games through a cultural lens to determine whether they should be classified as authentic cultural heritage or as an "invented tradition." It explores how these games serve as a mechanism for group and identity formation, particularly in contexts where a community experiences a "cultural vacuum" or social upheaval.
- Theoretical analysis of "Heritage" versus "Invented Tradition."
- Historical evolution of the Highland Games from clan gatherings to modern spectacles.
- The impact of Romanticism and the British aristocracy on the modification of Scottish identity.
- The role of the Highland Games in fostering unity and social cohesion in both Scotland and the diaspora.
- Critical investigation into the commercialization and commodification of cultural practices.
Excerpt from the Book
2.2. The Invention of Tradition
In our dynamic and constantly altering world, human nature attempts to “structure at least some parts of social life within it as unchanging and invariant.” (Hobsbawm 2). As stated above, the years of unforced developed, repeated and/or inherited variety of traditions can give a constant and firm framework and thus enable the establishment of a cultural identity (Assmann Communicative 110). History gives various examples that in the absence of such, historic fictions have often been created to legitimize group structures and claims to power (Hobsbawm 9; Plener n.p.). This idea was firstly introduced as the concept of ‘Invented Tradition’ by the Marxist social historian Eric Hobsbawm and the Africanist Terence Ranger in their anthology “The Invention of Tradition” published in 1983. The series of essays illustrate several examples of “’Traditions’ which appear or claim to be old [but] are often quite recent in origin and sometimes invented” (1). Examples of the last 200 years vary from mass production in Europe to identity construction of British colonial rule in.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: The introduction sets the scene by presenting a contemporary case study of Highland Games in Germany, highlighting the tension between ancient tradition and modern marketing.
2. Defining Heritage, Invented Tradition and the Development of the Highland Games throughout the Centuries: This chapter establishes the theoretical framework by defining heritage and invented traditions, followed by a chronological historical overview of the Highland Games.
3. The Highland Games between Heritage and Invented Tradition: This section investigates how the Games simultaneously embody characteristics of both historical heritage and artificially constructed tradition through an analysis of their evolution and institutionalization.
4. Identity Formation: The chapter explores how the Highland Games function as a tool for creating a sense of belonging and cultural identity, especially for Scottish populations living abroad.
5. Conclusion: The conclusion synthesizes the findings, arguing that the Games represent a hybrid of heritage and invented tradition that remains vital for Scottish identity despite its complex and often romanticized history.
Keywords
Scottish Highland Games, Heritage, Invented Tradition, Cultural Identity, Collective Memory, Balmoralisation, Cultural Vacuum, Social Cohesion, Historical Development, Authenticity, Commodification, Romanticism, Scotland, Tradition, Clan Gatherings.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research paper?
The paper examines the Scottish Highland Games to determine if they are authentic heritage or an "invented tradition" used to construct national and group identities.
What are the central themes discussed in the work?
The central themes include the intersection of history and culture, the impact of British colonial influence on Scottish customs, and how traditions are maintained or modified to serve social and economic purposes.
What is the primary research goal?
The goal is to understand how the Highland Games serve as a mechanism for Scottish identity formation and why they continue to hold significance even when their origins are partially invented.
Which scientific methods or theoretical frameworks are used?
The author primarily employs cultural theory, specifically utilizing Eric Hobsbawm’s concept of "Invented Tradition" and Jan Assmann’s theory of "Collective Memory" to analyze the development of the Games.
What topics are covered in the main body of the paper?
The main body covers the historical development of the Games across four distinct periods, detailed definitions of heritage and tradition, and a comparative analysis of these concepts as applied to the Games.
Which keywords best describe this study?
Key terms include Scottish Highland Games, Heritage, Invented Tradition, Cultural Identity, Collective Memory, and Social Cohesion.
How did the British state influence the Highland Games?
After the Jacobite Rebellion, the British state engaged in a campaign of cultural suppression, later reintroducing the Games in a modified, romanticized form that aligned with aristocratic interests.
Why are the Highland Games important for the Scottish diaspora?
For Scottish immigrants, the Games filled a "cultural vacuum" by providing a sense of community, shared history, and a tangible connection to their origins in a new, unfamiliar environment.
What is the "cultural vacuum" mentioned in the text?
A "cultural vacuum" refers to a situation where a society lacks a common history or cultural framework, leading them to adopt or invent traditions to establish social stability and collective identity.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Leander Ross (Autor:in), 2017, Scottish Highland Games. Heritage, Invented Tradition and Identity Formation, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/448487
