Arts of Independence: The cultural argument and why it matters most (Viewpoints) - Softcover

Alexander Moffat; Alan Riach

Softcover

ISBN 10: 190837375X ISBN 13: 9781908373755

Publisher: Luath Press Ltd., 2014

Synopsis

There is only one argument for Scottish independence: the cultural argument. It was there long before North Sea oil had been discovered, and it will be here long after the oil has run out.

How have perceptions of Scottish culture been shaped by its role within Britain?
What would be different about culture in an Independent Scotland?
Why is culture the key to the independence debate?

ALEXANDER MOFFAT and ALAN RIACH take a hard look at the most neglected aspect of the argument for Scotland s distinctive national identity: the arts. Their proposition is that music, painting, architecture and, pre-eminently, literature, are the fuel and fire that makes imagination possible. Neglect them at your peril. For Moffat and Riach, jobs, health and trade are matters of material fact that need to be enlivened by imagination. How can we organise society to help us approach what the arts have to give. Why have we been so poor at representing our arts comprehensively, both within Scotland and internationally? What can be done? How might things be different? The arts are of paramount importance in the modern world. Moffat and Riach take the argument out of the hands of politicians and economists and beyond the petty squabbles of party politics.

Praise for Arts of Resistance
An inspiration, a revelation and education, as to the extraordinary richness and organic cohesion of twentieth-century Scottish culture, full of intellectual adventure and openness to the wider world... full of passion and intelligence... This is a landmark book. THE TIMES LITERARY SUPPLEMENT

About this title

About the Author

ALEXANDER (SANDY) MOFFAT RSA is an artist and teacher. Many of his paintings grace the walls of Scotland s National Portrait Gallery, including the well-known Poet s Pub and other portraits of significant Scottish writers. Born in Dunfermline in 1943, he studied painting at Edinburgh College of Art. He was the Director of New 57 Gallery of Edinburgh 1968-78, later joining the staff of Glasgow School of Art, where he became Head of Painting 1992-2005.

ALAN RIACH is currently the professor and Chair of Scottish Literature, University of Glasgow. He was born in Airdrie in 1957, and studied English at Cambridge Universi-ty 1976-79. He completed his PhD in the Department of Scottish Literature at Glas-gow University in 1986. His academic career has included positions as a post-doctoral research fellow, senior lecturer, Associate Professor and Pro-Dean Faculty of Arts, University of Waikato, New Zealand 1986-2000.

Edition details

• Publisher: Luath Press Ltd.
• Publication date: 2014
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 190837375X
• ISBN 13: 9781908373755
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 240