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...
Can we please go to the Tate Gallery together?
ReplyDeleteOne of my favorite paintings ever.
ReplyDeleteyes, we can go to the tate gallery, as long as you don't mind me standing in front of this (and a few other) painting(s) for about twenty minutes or more.
ReplyDeletei wanna go toooo :(
ReplyDeleteGroup trip! I'm sure we could get a discount.
ReplyDeleteWe will take our time, I promise. And no falling asleep like I almost did in Scotland...
that was totally justified. you walked how many miles into the city right after your flight? and those were really nice couches in that gallery, soft and round and red...
ReplyDeleteOnly 20 minutes? I could camp in front of this painting and just be awed and sad at the same time. So, see, I have to come, too.
ReplyDelete