Celtic and Scottish Studies Seminar Series: Catriona MacDonald In brief Speaker - Ms Catriona MacDonald (University of Newcastle) Title -"Wildie and Lalla": a creative practice response to feminist historiographic and archive-based research in a film (2021) on Shetlander Jessie M E Saxby (1842-1940), woman, author, folklorist and mother About the seminar "Wildie and Lalla" (2021) is a collaborative film created by Shetland fiddle player Catriona Macdonald, with filmmakers Shona Main (Shetland) and Angelica Kroeger (Scotland) and views Shetlander Jessie M. E. Saxby (1842-1940) as a woman, author, folklorist and mother through the lens of contemporary female creative practice. 'Wildie' was the pet name given to Jessie by her father Dr Laurence Edmondston, as she grew up in the house and gardens of Halligarth, Baltasound, Unst. Jessie moved away to the Scottish mainland, for the benefit of her husband Dr Henry Saxby's health, and after his early and untimely death, she lived in Edinburgh with her surviving children for most of her adult life. Before she left Unst, Jessie experienced like many other women of the period the loss of a much-loved child: their only daughter Laura, 'Lalla'. Extraordinarily, unlike many other mothers of this time, Saxby was able to articulate her own grief and loss via her own creative practice, writing an intimate portrayal of her child's death in her 1875 book "The One Wee Lassie". Using historiographical and archival research as a starting point, this seminar will present the research and creative processes that underpin the film, made in collaboration with filmmakers Shona Main (Shetland) and Angelica Kroeger (Scotland). It will also explore how new creative work based on historical women’s lived experiences can resonate with contemporary viewpoints on belonging, loss and memory, and aims to further elevate Saxby as an important female figure in the cultural history of the Shetland Islands. The 16-minute film will be shown during the seminar, but may also be accessed beforehand at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPOwkfmM7mI. All seminars take place fortnightly on Fridays between 13.15 and 14.00. Please contact Dr Neill Martin to receive a Zoom invitation and password. We extend a warm welcome to all with an interest in the topics presented and look forward to seeing you. NB The Zoom invitation will indicate a 13.00 start but the seminar will commence at 13.15. About the speaker Ms Catriona MacDonald is a world-renowned Shetland fiddler, composer and ethno-musicologist. She is a Senior Lecturer and Degree Programme Director for the BA in Folk and Traditional Music at Newcastle University. About the Celtic and Scottish Studies Seminar Series As the longest established department of its kind in Scotland, Celtic and Scottish Studies at Edinburgh is a major international hub for research, teaching and learning. Each semester, we welcome a fantastic range of guest speakers and colleagues to present a lunchtime seminar on their work. Entry is free and no booking is required. Everyone is welcome. Are you interested in Celtic and Scottish Studies? We offer three undergraduate degrees and a number of postgraduate programmes, both taught and research-led, drawing on excellent teaching and research and access to world-leading collections and archives. Find out more Nov 12 2021 13.15 - 14.00 Celtic and Scottish Studies Seminar Series: Catriona MacDonald Join us for an online seminar by Ms Catriona MacDonald (Newcastle University) on the collaborative film "Wildie and Lalla" (2021) which views Shetlander Jessie M. E. Saxby (1842-1940) as a woman, author, folklorist and mother through the lens of contemporary female creative practice. Online via Zoom View film here - 'Wildie and Lalla'
Celtic and Scottish Studies Seminar Series: Catriona MacDonald In brief Speaker - Ms Catriona MacDonald (University of Newcastle) Title -"Wildie and Lalla": a creative practice response to feminist historiographic and archive-based research in a film (2021) on Shetlander Jessie M E Saxby (1842-1940), woman, author, folklorist and mother About the seminar "Wildie and Lalla" (2021) is a collaborative film created by Shetland fiddle player Catriona Macdonald, with filmmakers Shona Main (Shetland) and Angelica Kroeger (Scotland) and views Shetlander Jessie M. E. Saxby (1842-1940) as a woman, author, folklorist and mother through the lens of contemporary female creative practice. 'Wildie' was the pet name given to Jessie by her father Dr Laurence Edmondston, as she grew up in the house and gardens of Halligarth, Baltasound, Unst. Jessie moved away to the Scottish mainland, for the benefit of her husband Dr Henry Saxby's health, and after his early and untimely death, she lived in Edinburgh with her surviving children for most of her adult life. Before she left Unst, Jessie experienced like many other women of the period the loss of a much-loved child: their only daughter Laura, 'Lalla'. Extraordinarily, unlike many other mothers of this time, Saxby was able to articulate her own grief and loss via her own creative practice, writing an intimate portrayal of her child's death in her 1875 book "The One Wee Lassie". Using historiographical and archival research as a starting point, this seminar will present the research and creative processes that underpin the film, made in collaboration with filmmakers Shona Main (Shetland) and Angelica Kroeger (Scotland). It will also explore how new creative work based on historical women’s lived experiences can resonate with contemporary viewpoints on belonging, loss and memory, and aims to further elevate Saxby as an important female figure in the cultural history of the Shetland Islands. The 16-minute film will be shown during the seminar, but may also be accessed beforehand at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPOwkfmM7mI. All seminars take place fortnightly on Fridays between 13.15 and 14.00. Please contact Dr Neill Martin to receive a Zoom invitation and password. We extend a warm welcome to all with an interest in the topics presented and look forward to seeing you. NB The Zoom invitation will indicate a 13.00 start but the seminar will commence at 13.15. About the speaker Ms Catriona MacDonald is a world-renowned Shetland fiddler, composer and ethno-musicologist. She is a Senior Lecturer and Degree Programme Director for the BA in Folk and Traditional Music at Newcastle University. About the Celtic and Scottish Studies Seminar Series As the longest established department of its kind in Scotland, Celtic and Scottish Studies at Edinburgh is a major international hub for research, teaching and learning. Each semester, we welcome a fantastic range of guest speakers and colleagues to present a lunchtime seminar on their work. Entry is free and no booking is required. Everyone is welcome. Are you interested in Celtic and Scottish Studies? We offer three undergraduate degrees and a number of postgraduate programmes, both taught and research-led, drawing on excellent teaching and research and access to world-leading collections and archives. Find out more Nov 12 2021 13.15 - 14.00 Celtic and Scottish Studies Seminar Series: Catriona MacDonald Join us for an online seminar by Ms Catriona MacDonald (Newcastle University) on the collaborative film "Wildie and Lalla" (2021) which views Shetlander Jessie M. E. Saxby (1842-1940) as a woman, author, folklorist and mother through the lens of contemporary female creative practice. Online via Zoom View film here - 'Wildie and Lalla'
Nov 12 2021 13.15 - 14.00 Celtic and Scottish Studies Seminar Series: Catriona MacDonald Join us for an online seminar by Ms Catriona MacDonald (Newcastle University) on the collaborative film "Wildie and Lalla" (2021) which views Shetlander Jessie M. E. Saxby (1842-1940) as a woman, author, folklorist and mother through the lens of contemporary female creative practice.
