IT has achieved legendary status and amassed legions of fans.
Now time-travel romance Outlander is to gain academic acclaim as a Scottish university hosts a four-day summit on the pop culture phenomenon.
A best-selling book series and streaming sensation, the Jacobite-themed hit by US writer Diana Gabaldon has been credited with boosting tourism and renewing international interest in Scotland and its history.
It has also made a major star of its leading man Sam Heughan.
It is not known whether the Dumfries and Galloway actor will attend the Outlander conference at Glasgow University this summer, which will be the first event of its kind.
READ MORE: Scots are the ‘hardiest fans in the world’ says Outlander star
However, Gabaldon will deliver a keynote speech at the June 2020 gathering, which will take in all aspects of the saga including language, music, politics, history, culture, music and clothing. A call has gone out to the world’s academics for research related to the series and its subject matter.
Literature expert Professor Willy Maley expects intense interest in what is promised to be an “exciting, vibrant and highly popular conference”, with some events open to the public.
Maley said: “The globally successful Outlander series has triggered more interest in Scotland and its history than any other cultural artefact 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.”
Glasgow University was used as a shooting location for the TV series, which is available in the UK via Amazon Prime. Many staff members also advised the production, with Celtic and Gaelic lecturer Gillebride MacMillan appearing as Gwyllyn the Bard. He said: “ It has opened huge opportunities for me, and I just love that through Outlander I have been able to bring new songs and the Gaelic language to a whole new and worldwide audience.
“I am looking forward to the conference next year which will bring all the many disciplines at the University of Glasgow together to look at Outlander from an educational and academic perspective.”
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