The Contribution of Scots to the Building of British Film and Television Institutions
The relationship between Scotland and the rest of the United Kingdom has become increasingly uncertain, due in part to growing levels of self-identified cultural difference on the part of Scots. However, this is a relatively new phenomenon and it is instructive to consider the role played by Scots in the founding or development of institutions that in turn have helped propagate discourses of British culture and values. That contribution has been particularly significant in the sphere of film and television. Indeed, Scotland's contribution to British film and television has been arguably far greater than basic demographics would have predicted. Has there been a discernible ‘Scottish’ influence in the history and character of these institutions, and what might this mean for understanding British cultural identity and its more common alignment with Englishness?