Annotation
Course Description:
The course will explore representations of Ireland and the Irish through film. One of the central aims will be to analyse the ways in which Ireland has been portrayed by filmmakers – as quaint and pastoral or conversely as a nation plagued by seemingly senseless violence – and to explore how more recently these trajectories are becoming more complicated. In particular, we will focus upon questions of authenticity and imagination, the texts and contexts of the films, while taking into account the background of current debates in Irish cultural and literary studies involving post-colonialism and post-modernism.
Students are expected to watch the assigned films in advance of the class.
Schedule: (subject to minor changes)
Week 1 (18 Feb.) Introduction and course requirements.
Week 2 (25 Feb.) Ethnicity, Authenticity and Documentary: Man of Aran (Robert Flaherty, 1934)
Week 3 (4 Mar.) Ireland and the American Imagination: The Quiet Man (John Ford, 1952)
Week 4 (11 Mar.) America and the Irish Imagination: Brooklyn (John Crowley, 2015)
Week 5 (18 Mar.) Catholic Ireland’s Hidden Pasts: The Magdalene Sisters (Peter Mullan, 2002)
Week 6 (25 Mar.) The Troubles on Film: The Crying Game (Neil Jordan, 1992)
Week 7 (1 Apr.) The Troubles on Film: Bloody Sunday (Paul Greengrass, 2002)
Week 8 (8 Apr.) Dublin ‘Musicals’: The Commitments (Alan Parker, 1990), Once (John Carney, 2007)
Week 9 (15 Apr.) Celtic Tiger Ireland: Intermission (John Crowley, 2003) and Adam and Paul (Lenny Abrahamson, 2004)
Week 10 (22 Apr.) Ireland and Europe: In Bruges (Martin McDonagh, 2008)
Week 11 (29 Apr.) I will be absent; No class
ESSAY PROPOSALS DUE by 6 May at 18.00
Week 12 (6 May) Topic to be finalized
Week 13 (13 May) Conclusion
Final essay presentations, course evaluation
Grading Scheme
Attendance and Participation 20%
Presentation/Short response paper 20%
Proposal (10) + Final Essay (50) 60%
Please note: Students are expected to attend classes. If you are absent for more than 30% of the total number of classes, you will not be entitled to the credit. In order to pass this class, you must capable of reading and discussing primary and secondary texts in English and be able to compose an academic research paper at the end of the course. If you have an Independent Study Plan, I need to know at the start of the semester.
