Scottish Uni to host major Outlander conference next year

The University of Glasgow is to host a major conference on historical time-travel drama Outlander.

The four-day event will examine the history, customs, politics, culture, clothes and music featured in the hit television series.

Diana Gabaldon, author of the books on which the series is based, will give a keynote speech at the conference in June 2020.

Outlander follows the adventures of English nurse Claire Randall, played by Caitriona Balfe, who travels back in time from 1940s Scotland to the 18th century, where she meets and falls in love with Highlander Jamie Fraser, played by Sam Heughan.

It has led to an influx of visitors to locations featured in the series, such as Culloden in the Highlands, Doune Castle near Stirling and Blackness Castle near Linlithgow.

Professor Willy Maley, professor of renaissance studies at the university, said: "The globally successful Outlander series has triggered more interest in Scotland and its history than any other cultural artifact in recent years. Interest continues to grow as Outlander moves into its fifth season.

"While hundreds of fan-based gatherings and interest groups around the world promote and encourage Outlander fandom, and thousands of media articles ponder its reach and appeal, there has not yet been an event which takes an academic approach to the series and brings together the multiple areas of expertise involved in its creation.

"The University of Glasgow plans to do just this: hosting a major international Outlander conference in 2020 will offer the chance to debate, discuss and dissect the elements that make up this remarkable phenomenon."

To complement the academic event, the university is working with partners to plan a programme of events that will be open to the general public and will take place over the same four days.

Several academics at the university have been directly involved in the production of Outlander and have played key roles as researchers, advisers and even cast members.

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