Are the young Scots nowadays still proud of being Scottish, despite the narrative that their lifestyles actually lack of moralities, living standards, and expectations? Many scenes from the movie Trainspotting have proven that the Scots, especially the young ones, really do have the highest rate of smoking, alcohol, drug abuse, and unemployment in Britain. Their weak living standards and expectations are also worrying, especially for their economic prospects. These facts can explain why the young Scottish main character, Mark Renton, would rather move to London than stay in Edinburgh, like the other “bright” young Scots.
However, from the movie, some young Scots are still proud of their distinctive cultures and identities of being Scottish. By “executing” the usage of the general English language and living in their own boundless lifestyles are somewhat like some of their ways to achieve their goal - to execute the English old habit of considering Scotland to be the extension of England. They try to declare, “We Scottish have our own fresh air! So English you can piss off!”
But can the young Scots really achieve all of them, despite, once again, the other narrative that their predecessors were ever “colonized” by England? Maybe Mark Renton could answer such questions, when Tommy asked him and his friends to be proud of the Scottish fresh air, of being Scottish itself.
“It’s shites being Scottish, Tommy! We’re the lowest of the low! The scum of the earth that was ever shat into civilization. Some people hate English, I don’t! They’re just wankers! We, on the other hand, colonized by wankers! Can’t even find a decent culture to be colonized by. We’re ruled by effete arseholes! So it’s shites state of affairs to be in, and all the fresh air in the world won’t make any difference!”
These words are taken from my British Culture blah blah mid-term assignment. There is nothing particular, actually, about this post. Perhaps I only expect us to ponder it over the mind, or analogize it to our daily encounter with trends, ideals, menthor, or anything that relates to our seeking-identity disorder. I dunno.
