because you were all wondering what I'm writing my dissertation on, here's a brief synopsis of my 'research context': When James Macpherson published his Fragments of Ancient Poetry in 1760, he went to great lengths to make the Fragments appear to be authentic remains of an ancient, heroic oral tradition. His reasons for this were largely political, and as such, influenced the content of the epics themselves. As an attempt to establish a particularly Scottish identity, the poems were quite effective. However, to do so required both a simplification and a manipulation of traditional mythology. Stripped of anagogical significance, the Ossian epics more or less represented an Enlightenment version of history, tradition, and mythic heritage. The stories themselves were changed by their very purpose and in turn changed the manner of representing myth in future narratives. Moreover, the emphasis on the Ossian epics as authentic tales from the past, as ‘fragments,’ served...
berry berry nice
ReplyDeleteI want to come and shop and go on the ferris wheel. And distract you from your paper. Pout.
ReplyDeleteStupid old boring America.
you wouldn't want to today. i think it might snow--the air is thick with fog and cold and windiness. yesterday i was caught in a sudden sleet. i hope it's not like this during the torch parade and during new years.
ReplyDeleteOooooh, snow! I hope you have pulled out your gloves and scarf and HAT since your hair is so short- you can't use it as a scarf anymore. :-)
ReplyDeleteI am hoping/praying/sending-good-vibes for your new years/torch parade weather...