The relevancy of cultural icons Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

The relevancy of cultural icons - Essay Example Hence the foray into serious literature was bold as it is the right approach.   As the oft quoted maxim states, ‘The more ethnic a work of art is, the more universal is its appeal’.   This is precisely what modern writers of the Highlands and Islands appear to have done since the beginning of the twentieth century.   In specific, they brought to the fore the influence of cultural icons, indigenous and foreign, and made their persona bear upon the written word. The rewards for this enterprise are for all patrons of good art to be enjoyed.   Writers of such renown as Alasdair Gray, Carol Ann Duffy, Irvine Welsh, etc serve as stellar examples of this success.   And as interviews and analysis of modern Scottish writers makes clear, their works are informed and inspired by key cultural icons, native or foreign. (Horwich, 2002)In an interview with Kathy Acker in 1986, Alasdair Gray mentions key personalities that influenced his artistic development.   Among the boo ks he read early in life are those by George Orwell, Franz Kafka and James Joyce.   Timeless classics such as 1984, The Trial and the Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man made a big impression on the formative mind of Gray.   These writers were cultural icons in their own right as they were recognized for their socio-cultural comment as much for their literary genius.   Today, their thought is well-assimilated into Scottish public discourse.  (Horwich, 2002)... As the oft quoted maxim states, ‘The more ethnic a work of art is, the more universal is its appeal’. This is precisely what modern writers of the Highlands and Islands appear to have done since the beginning of the twentieth century. In specific, they brought to the fore the influence of cultural icons, indigenous and foreign, and made their persona bear upon the written word. The rewards for this enterprise are for all patrons of good art to be enjoyed. Writers of such renown as Alasdair Gray, Carol Ann Duffy, Irvine Welsh, etc serve as stellar examples of this success. And as interviews and analysis of modern Scottish writers makes clear, their works are informed and inspired by key cultural icons, native or foreign. (Horwich, 2002) In an interview with Kathy Acker in 1986, Alasdair Gray mentions key personalities that influenced his artistic development. Among the books he read early in life are those by George Orwell, Franz Kafka and James Joyce. Timeless classics s uch as 1984, The Trial and Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man made a big impression on the formative mind of Gray. These writers were cultural icons in their own right as they were recognized for their socio-cultural comment as much for their literary genius. Today, their thought is well-assimilated into Scottish public discourse. Gray’s influences go further back in history, as he even drew inspiration from the Greek classics and epic folk narratives. Considering that ancient Greek thought is integral to Western academia, it is not unfair to claim that the intellectual traditions of the Highlands and Islands have drawn considerably from the former. Likewise, Gray’s adaption of key literary genres, forms and devices from across history says something of Scotland’s literary culture.