Jabberwock Quotes

“Another thing, documentary is not enough. It has its contribution - a valuable one - to make; in education, in exposition, in social argument, in training artist and audience to a feeling for physical material, in extending and sensitising kinetic responses, in extracting and communicating relevant paces and rythms from national life. But the effect of documentary, though it may be inspirational, will always be limited. John Grierson, Scotland's one cinematic genius and founder of British documentary, still leads the movement with his theory. He is, though he would hate to think it, an idealist with a naïve, little-boy feeling for the marvel and complexity of social organisations. He believes that Man has only to limit his vision and see himself and his world in a certain light and he will attain a kind of happiness. Regrettably or otherwise, Scotland has not the habit of half shutting its eyes to what it values as precious, and while it has appreciated and employed documentary for the potentialities listed above, it has not squared its shoulders very perceptibly before Mr. Grierson's simplifications.”
― David Angus, Jabberwock: Edinburgh University Review, Volume 3, No. 2: Summer 1950

“To return to Gibbon for a moment. The great epitaph for the fallen soldiers on the last page of Sunset Song is more than effective; in an early chapter it might have roused sneers. But Gibbon himself would not have written it there.”
― David Angus, Jabberwock: Edinburgh University Review, Volume 3, No. 2: Summer 1950

“By means of these songs, which seemed to have been transferred straight from the streets of Paris to the stage, Maurice could stir the hearts of the crowd. The fundemantal reason of his success lies in that his listeners, especially those of simple heart, get the impression that this popular singer is the interpreter of their own feelings. So sincere and realistic are his renderings of these typically Parisian songs that most of those present think they could express them just as well if they took the trouble. Of course that is only an illusion on their part, for it takes a sort of genius to succeed in this difficult art.”
― Hugh MacDiarmid, Jabberwock: Edinburgh University Review, Volume 3, No. 2: Summer 1950