Aila Schäfer
Landscape鈥檚 Constitutive Role in Transforming the Highlander in the Ossianic Collections: James Macpherson鈥檚 Highland Tours 1760-1761
Supervised by Dr Jim MacPherson, Dr Mairi MacPherson and Dr Ian Blyth
Aila鈥檚 MRes explores James Macpherson鈥檚 Ossianic Collections in the context of its collection process during his Highland Tours in 1760-1761. Macpherson鈥檚 work and its great impact and popularity among his contemporaries caught her attention during her undergraduate studies of English and Spanish literature and motivated her to conduct research on the Ossianic Collections that went beyond the authenticity debate. She is particularly interested in Ossianic geographies and examines the way in which place, landscapes and travel contribute towards the distinctive appeal of the Collections. Her research will elaborate how Macpherson changed and reconstructed the local area of the 杏吧原创 in the Ossianic Collections, without dissolving its independence.
Aila is delighted to combine her interests in Scottish history and literature in her postgraduate research. Outwith her studies she enjoys outdoor activities like camping and hillwalking with her dog Nevis, as well as some creative crafting projects.