Gaelic in Disney/Pixar’s “Brave”
As some folks may already know Celtic Life International magazine — which is based here in Nova Scotia — published my article on the use of Gaelic in Disney/Pixar’s film “Brave” in their Spring 2013 issue:
This article is now available for free on their website! So if you haven’t had a chance before now, then please take a look and let me know what you think. I’d still encourage you to buy a subscription to the magazine, and of course if you like the article, then please write to them to say so!
UPDATE: I’ve also archived the article in my repository on Academia.edu.
The online version also includes a sidebar with the interesting transatlantic history of the Gaelic song “Tha Mo Ghaol air Àird a’ Chuain” which was featured in a trailer for “Brave.” The sidebar was omitted from the printed version, so it’s great to see it in print on the website!
I’ve created a free YouTube playlist with real examples of how Gaelic was used in the film, including the trailer just mentioned. The playlist features introductions and analyses that expand on some of my points from the article. It’s great to be able to extend the discussion from the printed page into video, where it really belongs.
Having said that, I’m enjoying the time while this issue of Celtic Life International is still on the newsstands… because it’s the only time I’ll ever be between the covers with Ewan MacGregor!
Enjoyed your article and related video playlist re: “Brave.” It’s not surprising to me that Disney did not use Gaelic in “Brave” even though the film is set in the Scottish highlands at a time when the people living there would have all spoken Gaelic, rather than Scots or English. The film was intended for broad release to an international audience, most of which has some familiarity with English, but virtually none with Gaelic. If they had used Gaelic, they would have had to add subtitles for even the North American market. Thank goodness that unlike “Beauty and the Beast” (set in France) or “Frozen” (Norway), they at least used mostly native Scottish actors for the voice work.
We also have to remember that “Brave” is a fairy tale that takes place not in the real Scotland, but in a Scotland of the imagination, just as many great films like “The Iron Horse” and “The Searchers” take place in an American West of the imagination that never really existed. These are tales meant to entertain contemporary audiences. While they may be cloaked in the aura of a distant time or place, any message they contain is not intended to be taken as history, or even as an authentic legend.
Agree on you! Nice point of view
Hello just wanted to give you a brief heads up and let you know a few of the images aren’t loading properly. I’m not sure why but I think its a linking issue. I’ve tried it in two different browsers and both show the same results.