Culture is a dynamic entity that changes and adapts over time. However, as our
world grows increasingly interconnected, indigenous cultures throughout the world are
being assimilated into a 'global' culture, and losing many of the attributes that keep them
unique. For instance, the traditional culture of the Outer Hebrides of Scotland is being
squeezed between the need for increased development and modernization, and the desire
to remain distinct and separate from the cultures of Britain and the world beyond. The
Outer Hebrides is an archipelago lying off the northwest coast of Scotland, and is the last
stronghold of Gaelic cultural heritage. This thesis examines the cultural changes that have
taken place in the Outer Hebrides, as a result of development and modernization
throughout the past century. It undertakes this investigation through the eyes of those
who have witnessed the changes firsthand, by using research methods that have not yet
become common in the planning profession; namely, the use of story and life histories to
gather data for further analysis. A quantitative questionnaire was also employed to
determine which elements of the traditional culture Hebrideans consider most important,
and to provide balance to the qualitative research data. The data generated through the
Hebridean field research reveals how the traditional culture of the islands has changed
over the decades, and also points to ways that planners can aid development while
fostering cultural preservation at the same time. Recommendations for innovative
strategies are then made based on the collected data. Ultimately, this thesis reveals that
the use of story and life histories represents valid methodology for planning research,
while the collected stories from the elderly informants represent an act of cultural
preservation on its own. / Applied Science, Faculty of / Community and Regional Planning (SCARP), School of / Graduate
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:UBC/oai:circle.library.ubc.ca:2429/16187 |
| Date | 05 1900 |
| Creators | Morrison, Donald Anthony |
| Source Sets | University of British Columbia |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Text, Thesis/Dissertation |
| Format | 8318162 bytes, application/pdf |
| Rights | For non-commercial purposes only, such as research, private study and education. Additional conditions apply, see Terms of Use https://open.library.ubc.ca/terms_of_use. |
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