'Bamoralism' - How Destructive Was It?

[McBeaty]

"It was the Victorian age that transformed costume and Scottish symbols in general...It was then Queen Victoria's royal patronage that resolved the developing elements into a regular form for use in society" Source: Scottish Tartans Society Web Site

'Bamoralism', for those unfamiliar with the term, is the name given to the 'fashion' for all things Scottish made popular by England's Queen Victoria in the late 1800s.

However, in political terms, 'Bamoralism' is also a desirery term used by Scottish Nationalists to describe a period when Highland culture was 'hijacked' and *******ised by the Victorians. This '*******' Scottish culture became so popular and ingrained in 'British' society that - ironically - it is today held to be the 'true' and actual Scottish culture!

What's more bizzarre is that the majority of modern day Scots believe this representation of Scottish culture itself.

In modern terms 'Bamoralism' can be looked at as an early commercialisation of a national culture for means of 'tourism'. The tourist in question being Queen Victoria herself who popularised the Highland holiday among the 'British' upper classes.

From her seat at Bamoral Castle, where she had resided for some time after the death of her consort Prince Albert, Victoria inspired a wholesale 'fad' for all things 'Scottish'...However stereotyped and misinterpreted they might be.

This was, in effect, a BIG shot in arm of the tartan industry, which is still apparent today...And created a monsterous 'picture postcard' ideal which is gross misrepresentation of real Scottish/Celtic culture.

'Barmoralism', in short, is Short Bread tins and (to quote Billy Connolly) 'wee hairy Highlanders' which tourists buy in those tatty shops in Edinburgh. It's the 'Burn's Night' Haggis nonsense, and the 'Highland Games'...It's the 'Brigaddon' Scotland which doesn't really exist, but has influenced so many foreigners perceptions of the country.

...I rate it as the most dasterdly 'ethnic cleansing' policies ever wrought by any nation - as it has surupticiously and covertly surplanted the real culture of Scotland with a mythical culture of English making...And has done so with so much success that even Scots believe it themselves.

discuss.

McBeaty, you've raised an excellent topic. I've attempted to deal with an aspect of it humourously in the "Clans" forum, but I'm also directing people here. If you would be so kind, please send e-mail as to the word that was censored in your posting.

Andy M. Stewart sings a song on the subject. Here's an excerpt:

"They say Victoria loved our Highlands
Well, that's because she owned them all
A feather pen and an iron fist
Put a People's back against the wall."

I've listed the complete lyrics in the Andy M. Stewart topic in the Music forum.

Something similar happened in the US with Indians. Once Indians were no longer perceived as a threat, the stereotype of the "noble savage" arose. One of the symptoms of this was when Sitting Bull travelled with Buffalo Bill Cody's Wild West Show. Buffalo Bill performed for Victoria during her Jubilee. Evidently Victoria admired "noble savages" of all ethnicities... as long as their way of life had actually been destroyed.

Until recently, and after the Union of the Crowns, wasn't much Scottish culture looked down upon? I've read and heard older Scots say that they were actively discouraged from speaking the local dialect of the Scots language, or of speaking Gaelic. People were encouraged to speak "standard" English (Itself a dialect.) I've also heard people say that not much Scottish history was taught in school, that the emphasis was on "British" history.

"Brigadoonery" is much in evidence on this board, and every other "Scottish" chat room and discussion board I've visited. Non-Scots have a great opportunity to learn about Scotland via the Internet, and by talking to actual Scots. Unfortunately, it seems that a lot of people waste that opportunity.

However, I wouldn't lay the entire blame at the feet of the English. Sir Walter Scott played a large role in the advent of Balmoralism. Dastardly, yes... but the Scots are not the only group to suffer this way. One of the most persecuted groups in the world are the Rom (AKA gypsies).

[McBeaty]

Originally posted by sonsie:
[b]...However, I wouldn't lay the entire blame at the feet of the English. [b]

LOL...I very rarely JUST lay the blame on the English...

In this case I lay the blame more squarely on Victorian 'Romantacism'...Although this romantic 'view' does go back beyond the Nepolionic era.

This put forward the ideal of the 'Nobal Savage', of whom the 'Highlander' was though to be a part.

Nepoleon himself was a avid fan of the (fake) 'Celtic' poetry which rekindled intrest in the 'Highlands'...

And, as you say, Scott did his part (as did other Scottish Romantics) but the damage had already been done, and Queen Victoria was the 'killer blow' so to speak.

There-on-in the 'Highlands' became a romantic notion, adapted to suit the absurd notions of the English elite...After all, weren't the Highlanders just another savage race that they had 'civilised' under the umbrella of the Great 'British' Empire?

Soon, the upper-class of Scotland followed suit and jumped on the mythical bandwagon - you can still see the process today as upper-class Scottish twits prance about at social functions 'whooping' and tarten clad.

The High School in Dundee was a nest of such idiots...And I dare say every city in Scotland has it's clique of Highland Reeling, chinless twerps...Usually the local young Conservatives (which is kind of like inviting Hitler to a bar mitzvah).

I'm not so bitter at the Victorians for popularising such twoddle...More stupified that we Scots have taken it onboard as our 'real' culture'. It's like every American suddenly dressing up as 'cow folk' and wandering round in Stetsons and twirling six guns!

In creating a stereotype, we Scots have become our own worst enemy...As we believe the stereotype to be true.

[This message has been edited by McBeaty (edited 08 August 2000).]

[bobbybingo]

It is a shame that we Scots have adopted this tartan/shortbread tin persona foisted upon us by the likes of Scott. However, it has created the tourism industry which has probably saved the Highlands from utter desolation and devastation. i think it is perhaps a worthwhile price to pay.
bob

[Rhiannon_Gloaming]

Yikes. What a dope slap. :-) Thanks, McBeaty. Really, not being sarcastic.

I'm guilty of "Balmoralism" myself. Or of buying into it, I'm not sure what the difference is. Ignorance, for sure.

Can you tell me how the "real" Scottish culture is different -- or better, as you imply -- that the currently accepted "romanticized" version?

From where I'm sitting -- a native New Yorker who first fell in love at 13 with all things British because of the Beatles... which led me to my first a-ha! that the world was bigger than my neighborhood and my accepted way of life in my limited purview... to working at a record company at 20... which led me to discovering Jean Redpath (on our label at the time) and a whole new world Over the Pond... to perusing the import section in the music store, which led me to other Celtic music... which led me to a friendship with the store manager who took me to my first Highland Game in 1982... which led me to falling for all the romanticized illusions about things Scottish that is, I see now, "Balmoralism" -- well, from wher eI'm sitting, I'm grateful for "Balmoralism." <ducking for cover>

Is the romanticized version so bad ("ethnic cleansing"?!)? Everything in every culture gets co-opted to become a metaphor, a symbol. (Hell, take the military, anywhere, in any country: now, *that's* "romanticizing" for you!) Even if not the real thing/Scotland, it's a thing unto itself with an identity of it's own which has brought me (and thousands of others) much pleasure, much fun, much appreciation for a country, music, and a culture I would have likely never discovered on my own without the compelling lure of romance and tourism (which is Scotland's number one export, yes?). Would Scotland be better of, do you think, without tourism, outside interest? Even if the interest is misplaced and misbegotten?

I'm also grateful to learn from you that there is much much more to learn... a whole other Scotland to be explored. I'll happily "go to school" if you'll help. And have patience with some stupid, misinformed questions on my part. :-)

Rhiannon
<if you're lucky, you learn something new every day!>

[McBeaty]

Originally posted by Rhiannon Gloaming:
[b]Can you tell me how the "real" Scottish culture is different -- or better, as you imply -- that the currently accepted "romanticized" version?B]

There are two answers to this Rhiannon (and possibly three if you are a 'unionist')...Thanks for asking!

[I'll do a quick summary...As I'm suppose to be packing for my holiday, and my girlfriend is gonna shout me to get a move on any second!]

1) The Celtic Heritage: Scotland does have a rich underlying Celtic heritage...It's beautiful language (Scottish Gaelic) is one of the remnents of our true culture. A culture that was all but stamped out during the occupation period after Culloden.

Many Scots themselves know very little about thier true Celtic history - other than, possibly, the Scots were originally a Irish people who migrated to western Caladonia during the pre-Dark Age era.

This introduced a rich Gaelic tradition of Art, Music, song and dance to our nation - but almost certainly 'mixed', to produce a hybrid culture, with the indiginous Picts which inhabited the Eastern part of our country.

...This is, of course, our HISTORICAL culture.

2) Modern Scottish Culture: today's 'true' Scottish culture, IMHO, is a diverse, multiracial, multicultural mix - truely cosmopolitan. We in the North - I believ - have embrased the notion of a 'larger' cultural picture than our Southern (English ) counterpart. We are , generally, more inclined to be pro European, and tollerant of ethnic diversity.

We - again 'generally' - do not see being Scottish as a 'skin colour' but as something which is gladly shared with those who wish contribute to our rich and dynamic nation.

Glasgow and Edinburgh have both equally led the way in an artistic and cultural rennaisance which has added a new interacial and intercultural dimension to an already complex folk-culture.

This can only become every more diverse as we become closer to Europe, creating a singular identity that is both recognisably Celtic, and yet 'Pan-European' in nature which echos the original Gaelic roots of our culture (the Celts originally being an Indo-European race migrating from the mainland Europe to the 'British Isles').

In many ways we are coming full circle in our cultural development - returning to a Indo-European emphasis in our popular identity.

I have always enjoyed and had a special affliliation for our fellow Scots of decent from the Indian sub-continent. The spirituality and culural beauty of thier ancetry, mixed with the Celtic heritage will be the culture of the 'new' Scotland (IMHO).

But Celtic culture has never been 'exclusive' and has been in constant development....And could not be more different from the Shortbread Tin 'culture' concocted by the English and Highland Romantics. That 'culture' is tissue thin, with scant regard to any real history and heritage.

I find it sad that sop few of todays Scottish school children are taught about thier Celtic heritage....Ask and Scot who the first King of Scotland was and you will draw a blank. And yet ask the same Scots to name any 10 ENGLISH Kings and Quenns and they will find it easy to do so...I think this is very telling of the foisting of English 'heritage' OVER our own.

It has fostered the very artificial 'British' culture (the 3rd culture in Scotland). Confusing and denying Scots people into the belief of a 'real' 'British' heritage and lineage where none ever really existed...Mainly for the political and economic gain of Westminister and the English Monarchy.

...This '3rd culture' can be seen in action at Scottish Conservative rallies, Orange Lodge mettings and marches and on the stands in Rangers football matches - where the Union Jack is still flown.

Originally posted by McBeaty:
There are two answers to this Rhiannon (and possibly three if you are a 'unionist')...Thanks for asking!


I find it sad that sop few of todays Scottish school children are taught about thier Celtic heritage....Ask and Scot who the first King of Scotland was and you will draw a blank. And yet ask the same Scots to name any 10 ENGLISH Kings and Queens and they will find it easy to do so...I think this is very telling of the foisting of English 'heritage' OVER our own.

I realise that it's an 'old chestnut' but just take a look at any British 'coin of the realm' Elizabeth II D. G. REG F.D.

All due respect ma'am, but you're only Elizabeth II of England, You're Elizabeth I of Great Britain.

drummy