Celtic Culture in the Digital Age
The Celtofuturism Series
In the article Cambrofuturism and the Future of Celtic Christianity, I argued how technology can negatively impact communities and culture. This is particularly true for Celtic culture where the languages are most vulnerable. However, I also made the point that technology can be used to proliferate these languages and help Celtic communities grow through social media, free language websites, and Internet connectivity via Zoom and similar platforms. These are opportunities already made available, and if we assume that language learning can advance beyond the basics taught on Duolingo, that a strong and vibrant community of Gaelic speakers is assured.
While these efforts will ensure these communities have a strong and vibrant future, there is much more work to be done regarding the opportunities made available. As a community, we should endeavor to pursue all the possibilities to make Celtic culture relevant to future generations. This includes anything from producing original content in a Celtic language to new and exciting stories written from a uniquely Celtic perspective. The goal is not simply to preserve Celtic culture and its language, but to include them into popular culture. The purpose of this article is to explore various possibilities, how some have begun this process, and how to adapt from the approaches already in use from other cultures.
The most far-reaching possibility is through television and cinema, where both can explore various aspects of Celtic culture through a visual medium. We see this in the drama series Outlander, a TV series based on Diana Gabaldon’s eponymous novel. In the series, we are given a snapshot of 18th century Scotland – albeit dramatized for the sake of storytelling – where the characters speak Scots Gaelic and Scots. This single TV series has brought Highland Gaelic culture into the North American cultural zeitgeist, to which the character Jamie Frasier has become a household name. In comparison to the Pixar film Brave, the show has done more to make the average audience aware of Celtic culture rather than making it the butt of lukewarm humor.
The 2022 Irish film An Cailín Ciúin achieved similar success for the Irish language, where it won several awards and was nominated for an Academy Award. Based on Claire Keegan’s novella Foster, the film’s use of the Irish language proved to be a benefit as it encouraged others to learn the language. In these instances, it can be observed that the presence of Celtic languages in pop culture – whether in North America or overseas – encourages people to learn it or use their knowledge more frequently. It becomes a key facet of the culture and, for lack of a better word, makes speaking it “cool.”
Another possibility is through content creation, whether it is videos on topics related to pop culture or web comics. With the rise of interest in Japanese media, such as anime and manga, other countries have begun to include their own media in pursuit of profiting from the fandom. This includes China’s production of comics, known as manhua, and digital comic apps such as Webtoons. Such media could be beneficial to Celtic culture, where artists and writers could produce striking artwork and captivating stories related to the culture while using one of the languages. This could give rise to a new wave of “Celtic comics” with the potential to hold the attention of younger audiences, much to the same effect that Outlander and An Cailín Ciúin has had on older audiences.
While the use of apps such as Duolingo and Zoom have been useful for providing a foundation for new speakers, and keeping conversations alive for experienced speakers, there is a necessity for making Celtic culture and its associated languages relevant for future generations. This entails tapping into the cultural zeitgeist, making people aware of its existence in various media, and encouraging newer audiences to get involved. This requires an innovative spirit that is willing to use novel and creative methods to bring the culture into popular culture. If this can be accomplished, and the spirit to create continues onward, this will not only ensure that Celtic culture will not only survive but thrive in the future.