6 May 2010

'Troubled transition to modernity: Scottish everyday life in the 20th century' - Saturday Evening Lecture Series concludes

An exploration of the often traumatic transition in everyday life for Scots during the 20th century will bring the curtain down on the 2010 season of Saturday Evening Lectures at the University of Dundee.

Professors Callum Brown and Lynn Abrams will present an illustrated account of the seismic changes in Scottish society, most of which occurred after 1960, at the concluding lecture in this year’s series on Saturday, May 15th. The lecture marks the launch of their jointly edited book, The History of Everyday Life in Twentieth Century Scotland.

In 1900, Scotland was one of the least prosperous industrial zones in Europe. House overcrowding was the highest in the western world, religious culture was vigorous and - to many modern eyes - artless and oppressive, whilst sexual relations were surrounded with complex repressive etiquette and the masculinity of 'the hard man'.

Fast forward 100 years and Scotland was transformed, with a liberal and mostly secular culture, spacious homes, the world's largest arts festival in Edinburgh, and a 'liberated' sexual culture defined by high illegitimacy rates and the idealisation of 'the new man'.

Professor Brown said the lecture he and Professor Abrams, his wife, will deliver examines the extent of these changes as well as explaining the reasons why they took place.

'We will be exploring the way in which everyday life in Scotland changed as the country struggled towards becoming a modern society,' he said. 'It will look at the legacy of Victorian deprivation, the influence of a powerful, and quite restrictive, religious culture, and very difficult circumstances for women, both in the home and outside it.

'We'll then look at how this legacy was overtaken by several factors including the persistent efforts of the state and the cultural changes of the 60s and 70s. Various schemes of modernity will be examined, and the talk will by illustrated by images and film.'

Lynn Abrams is Professor of Gender History at the University of Glasgow, and the author of many books including The Making of Modern Woman: Europe 1789-1918 (2002), Myth and Materiality in a Women's World: Shetland 1800-2000 (2005), and The Orphan Country: Children of Scotland's Broken Homes, 1845 to the Present (1998)

Callum Brown is Professor of Religious & Cultural History at the University of Dundee, and author of 10 books, including The Death of Christian Britain (2001, 2009), Britain since 1707 (with WH Fraser, 2010), and Postmodernism for Historians (2004).

The popular Saturday Evening Lecture Series - now in its 86th year - is Scotland's oldest continuous free public lecture series, and attracts thousands of people each year to hear from prestigious, world-class speakers.

'Troubled transition to modernity: Scottish everyday life in the 20th century'takes place at the University’s Dalhousie Building from 6pm on Saturday, May 15th. A drinks reception will follow the event, for which overflow theatres may be in use.

Professors Brown and Abrams will also be signing copies of their new book, which will be on sale after the event.

Free tickets are available from the University’s Tower Reception and Events Office, by calling 01382 385564, emailing events@dundee.ac.uk or visiting www.dundee.ac.uk/tickets.

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