James Bond is the key to understanding Scots

A new book by a Scottish academic claims that Batman and James Bond are as important in understanding our cultural identity as Shakespeare or Robert Louis Stevenson - reports the Sunday Herald.

In Representing Scotland In Literature, Popular Culture And Iconography: The Masks Of The Modern Nation, Professor Alan Riach, head of the Scottish department of literature at Glasgow University, looks at cultural representations of the Scots in art, film and literature.

Alongside analyses of Macbeth and the works of Sir Walter Scott, Riach looks at Batman and Sean Connery as Bond in Goldfinger, saying that such icons of popular culture should be considered when unlocking the psyche of the Scots.

In one essay, Riach considers a 1998 comic reinvention of Batman, Batman’s Scottish Connection by Alan Grant, and treats it as a positive contribution to the canon of Scots literature.

According to Riach, Batman – or Bruce Wayne as he is known in his mortal form – was of Scottish ancestry. In the Grant story, Batman returns to Scotland to explore his national identity.

Riach explains: “This is an important statement, offering the Batman franchise a new alliance with Scottish identity, touching on the idea that America is an immigrant nation.”

The character of James Bond has a similar importance for Riach, especially in Connery’s interpretation.

Marc Lambert, chief executive of the Scottish Book Trust said it was “healthy” that Riach is analysing comics along with the canon.

“People who get exercised about literary value tend to forget the reader, and a thoroughly academic angle doesn’t tell the whole story as well.”

Thanks to `Ken` for the alert.

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