What is the Magna Carta (and no, it's not just a Jay-Z album) ?
Before becoming part of this blog team, I had no idea how to answer that question. I had little, if any, exposure to the development of Canadian law and history prior to law school.
So what is it? Is it even important? Is it relevant to anything today? Do we care?
Throughout the semester, my friends and I will endeavour to answer these questions through critical analysis and informal discussion, and we hope to engage members from both legal and non-legal circles. Although the Magna Carta talks about Knights and Lords (words that are now mainly associated with Game of Thrones) our goal is to expose the online community to its relevance in modern culture and politics. We will not only post short written blogs, but also video interviews with professors, legal professionals, and other members of the community.
For now, think of the Magna Carta like an automobile - over the last 100 years, there has been substantial changes in the way cars are designed, built, produced, and how they perform; however, the same fundamental elements (like the tires, engine, and seats) are still present in modern day versions, albeit in an enhanced form. Similarly, while current legislation isn't directly identical to the Magna Carta of 1215, there are still comparable basic elements which continue to be visible and significant.
It is your prerogative to either be a part of the discussion by responding to blog posts and tweets (@msmagnacarta), or to be a silent participant who reads and reflects on the material. Either way, we welcome you to our blog, and hope that you gain something over the next 3 months.
Formality dictates that I introduce myself – My name is Venessa, and I’m the 5th and final member of the #MagnaCartaUofA blog team. Check back for next week’s blogs and join us on the Magna Carta world tour.
