Lecture 13 4th February 05

Clive McGoun: Communicating

Culture 1

Site Visits: Site Visits: presentationspresentations

National identity National identity and museums and museums

displaysdisplays

2 Clive McGoun: Communicating

Culture

DefinitionsDefinitions

Nation stateNation state A state which possesses external fixed, known, A state which possesses external fixed, known,

demarcated borders, and possesses an internal demarcated borders, and possesses an internal uniformity of rule.uniformity of rule.

NationNation A named people who acknowledge a shared A named people who acknowledge a shared

solidarity and identity by virtue of a shared culture, solidarity and identity by virtue of a shared culture, history and territorial homeland.history and territorial homeland.

NationalismNationalism An emotive identification with a nation and a An emotive identification with a nation and a

political project to secure and independent nation-political project to secure and independent nation-state for a nation.state for a nation.


Culture

Approaches: GellnerApproaches: Gellner

Ernest GellnerErnest Gellner Nations are a modern invention that fit the Nations are a modern invention that fit the

functional requirements of modern societies.functional requirements of modern societies. Nations have come into being through Nations have come into being through

modernisation in general and industrialisation modernisation in general and industrialisation in particular.in particular.

Modernisation requires the development of a Modernisation requires the development of a common culture and common language.common culture and common language.

This requires mass education, centrally This requires mass education, centrally determined and homogonous which can determined and homogonous which can impose a single language and single culture.impose a single language and single culture.


Culture

Approaches: AndersonApproaches: Anderson Benedict AndersonBenedict Anderson

Concerned with the informal systems of literacy in Concerned with the informal systems of literacy in the process of modernisation. His starting point is the process of modernisation. His starting point is the idea of the nation as an the idea of the nation as an imagined community.imagined community.

It is imagined because the members of even the smallest It is imagined because the members of even the smallest nation will never know most of their fellow members, nation will never know most of their fellow members, meet them, or even hear of them. (1983: 15)meet them, or even hear of them. (1983: 15)

It is imagined as a limited community in a sea of It is imagined as a limited community in a sea of other such communities.other such communities.

It imagined itself as a community of self-rule, as It imagined itself as a community of self-rule, as sovereign.sovereign.

Shared literacy + shared language + shared Shared literacy + shared language + shared culture = the conditions for the emergence of culture = the conditions for the emergence of shared national identity.shared national identity.

It needs to be fought for and defended.It needs to be fought for and defended.


Culture

Approaches: SmithApproaches: Smith Anthony D. SmithAnthony D. Smith

Starts with the concept of an Starts with the concept of an ethnic community. ethnic community. In Europe In Europe these communities began to take shape in the Middle Ages.these communities began to take shape in the Middle Ages.

Before nations we find elements of ethnic communities (the Before nations we find elements of ethnic communities (the Welsh with a shared language: the Scots with their Welsh with a shared language: the Scots with their allegiance to a feudal state distinct from the English) which allegiance to a feudal state distinct from the English) which were the raw materials for the creation of the modern were the raw materials for the creation of the modern nation.nation.

The difference between ethnic community and nation is the The difference between ethnic community and nation is the possession of:possession of:1.1. An historic territory, or homeland;An historic territory, or homeland;2.2. Common myths and historical memories;Common myths and historical memories;3.3. A common mass, public culture;A common mass, public culture;4.4. Common legal rights and duties for all members;Common legal rights and duties for all members;5.5. A common economy with territorial mobility for all members. A common economy with territorial mobility for all members.

(1986)(1986)


Culture

Culture & IdentityCulture & Identity

CULTURES IDENTITIES

language

beliefs/values

signs/symbolsart

religion

can be markers of them and us, origins of sameness and difference

can create narratives and rituals that historically define identities

can provide core sense of self and community


Culture

What is Britain?What is Britain?

What changed the map and demanded the What changed the map and demanded the invention of Britain and Britishness was the invention of Britain and Britishness was the 1707 Act of Union. Passed by Westminster it 1707 Act of Union. Passed by Westminster it linked Scotland to England and Wales and linked Scotland to England and Wales and announced there would be ‘one United announced there would be ‘one United Kingdom by the name of Great Britain’.Kingdom by the name of Great Britain’.

So, there was an embryonic British nation So, there was an embryonic British nation state but no British nation.state but no British nation.

It was invented around five key pillars. Look It was invented around five key pillars. Look at these pillars and try to unpack their at these pillars and try to unpack their importance.importance.


Culture

What is Britain?What is Britain?

Five pillars on which British national Five pillars on which British national identity was invented.identity was invented.

GeographyGeography ReligionReligion WarWar Empire, land and commerceEmpire, land and commerce MonarchyMonarchy


Culture

Sustaining the nationSustaining the nation1.1. What are the symbols used in What are the symbols used in

the picture? List what you the picture? List what you can seecan see

2.2. What meanings are attached What meanings are attached to what you see in the to what you see in the picture? What do you picture? What do you associate with your list in 1.associate with your list in 1.

3.3. It is this photo, or one very It is this photo, or one very like it which appears in like it which appears in newspapers in November. newspapers in November. Could it have been Could it have been constructed differently, with constructed differently, with a different focus? What would a different focus? What would be the implications for the be the implications for the meanings?meanings?


Culture

Rituals and national Rituals and national identityidentity

Collective memories sustain Collective memories sustain collective national identities.collective national identities.

National identities need to be upheld National identities need to be upheld and reaffirmed at regular intervals.and reaffirmed at regular intervals.

Rituals play a crucial role.Rituals play a crucial role. But, what is ‘ritual’But, what is ‘ritual’


Culture


Durkheim: Durkheim: The Elementary forms of the The Elementary forms of the religious lifereligious life (1915) (1915)

Despite differences in content there are few Despite differences in content there are few formal or functional differences between formal or functional differences between religious and national, secular ceremonies and religious and national, secular ceremonies and rituals; their intentions, consequences and rituals; their intentions, consequences and processes employed to attain the same results processes employed to attain the same results are similar.are similar.

Religious ceremonies reinforce collective Religious ceremonies reinforce collective values and reaffirm a sense of community. They values and reaffirm a sense of community. They move people from the mundane to the sacred.move people from the mundane to the sacred.


Culture


The ‘old gods’ may be dead but the The ‘old gods’ may be dead but the rituals could be used for other purposes rituals could be used for other purposes by those seeking to forge national by those seeking to forge national identity.identity.

The national heroes become sacred; the The national heroes become sacred; the national celebrations become religious.national celebrations become religious.

The ‘British way of life’ begins to draw The ‘British way of life’ begins to draw on the language of religious ritual.on the language of religious ritual.


Culture


Can you think of other examples of Can you think of other examples of British national rituals or of the nation to British national rituals or of the nation to which you belong?which you belong?

To what extent are museum/gallery visits To what extent are museum/gallery visits ‘rituals’ in the senses we have been ‘rituals’ in the senses we have been exploring?exploring?

Which aspects of national identity are Which aspects of national identity are being celebrated or remembered? Are all being celebrated or remembered? Are all members of the population being members of the population being included? Do different groups treat such included? Do different groups treat such visits in different ways?visits in different ways?

Education

Lecture 13 4th February 05