Gothic literature focus for Inverness College UHI research project
SCOTTISH author John Burnside will be the focus of new research by Inverness College UHI lecturer Dr Valerie Beattie.
Valerie, who is programme and development manager for Cultural and Creative Industries at Inverness College UHI, presented a research paper on the multi-award winning author at the 13th biennial conference of the International Gothic Association this summer. The conference was based on the theme of “Gothic Traditions and Departures”, and took place in Cholula, Mexico.
Her paper, entitled “The Devil’s Footprints: Legend, Trauma and Recuperation in 21st Century Scottish Gothic” examined the subversive representation of the Devil in Burnside’s novel, tracing the innovative ways he uses this iconic Gothic character in a contemporary text about murder, community, love and loss.
As a result of the conference, Valerie has been awarded a research scholarship by Inverness College UHI enabling her to prepare the paper for publication in an academic journal and to extend her research into the relationship between Burnside and the genre of confessional literature.
Speaking about the conference, she said: “It was a wonderful experience. The feedback on my paper was really positive and I met one or two of my own heroes in the area of Gothic studies. It was an unforgettable summer and has challenged me to think more about the range and richness of contemporary Gothic Scottish fiction and its place in the tradition of Gothic film as well as literature. It has also opened up further publishing possibilities with colleagues in the field. And, of course, I am very excited about what this means for students on my Gothic module and how this will inspire their studies and dissertations.”
John Burnside is a Professor in Creative Writing at the University of St Andrews.