Chemnitz University of Technology Anglistische Literaturwissenschaft/ English Literature(s) Department   English Literature(s)     SS 02     Irish Cinema Classics

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Irish Cinema Classics Choose linkLinks Course Description   The history of Irish cinema provides privileged access to an analysis of some of the major  myths of Irish cultural identity as undercurrents of what might be called fault lines, basic tensions and divisions in Irish history, society, and culture. It will be interesting to see how the variety of different perspectives (especially those that suggest modernisation  and globalisation) run counter to the stereotypes of a Catholic Gaelic Rural Ireland which dominated the  country's (self-)image for the better part of the 20th  century. The stereotypes of an Irish Ireland and a Gaelic way of life (together with those of the Stage Irishman and the Returned Yank) were, for example, taken up by, and reinforced in, John Ford's The Quiet Man (1952). In recent years the process of the 'demythologisation  of the West' has been carried on in the work of Neil  Jordan. Jordan's films can be seen as an interesting sidelight on the origins of the 'Troubles' and as an exploration of one of the perennial themes of Irish  history: violence and the romanticising of violence. After a brief introduction to the history of Irish film/cinema I propose the following  films (as well as the related literary source texts) for close scrutiny:  The Informer (1935; dir. John  Ford; based on a novel by Liam O'Flaherty) The Quiet Man (1952; dir.  John Ford; based on a short story by Maurice Walsh) The Dead (1987; dir. John  Huston; based on a short story by James Joyce) The Field (1990; dir. Jim  Sheridan; based on a play by John Keane) The Crying Game (1992; dir.  Neil Jordan; original filmscript) Required reading:  A private anthology especially designed for this course will be available in Room Rh 39/213 (Mrs. Podsiadly) from 15 February onwards.  In order to facilitate the distribution of such material, students are asked to register for this  seminar as soon as possible. Links:   Link   Description   Rating   Posted by               General Links                       The  Irish Film Board     The national institution on Irish film.   Content: 5 Layout: 4 Speed: 3   P               Introduction into the media history of Ireland     A six-page introduction.   Content: 5 Layout: 3 Speed: 3   P               The  Heroic Outlaw in Irish Folklore and Popular  Literature.     A 24-page article on that  topic. Very good source.   Content: 5 Layout: 3 Speed: 3   P               Re-negotiated  Territory     A 17-page article discussing "The Politics of Place, Space and Landscape" in Irish Photography (subtitle). Interesting  as also relevant for some of the directors  dealt with in the course.   Content: 5 Layout: 3 Speed: 3   P               Protecting the Family and the Nation: the official censorship of American cinema in Ireland,  1923-1954.     A 17-page article that deals extensively with that special aspect of Irish cinema but thereby sheds some light on the situation in general.   Content: 5 Layout: 3 Speed: 3   P               Addressing the Eye in Ireland. Thaddeus O'Sullivan's On a Paving Stone Mounted (1978).     A seven-page article on  the visual tradition in Ireland using the example of Thaddeus O�Sullivan.   Content: 4 Layout: 3 Speed: 3   P               The  Ballykissangelizatio n of Ireland.     A 13-page article on some  recent developments in Ireland, especially  the entwining of tourism and the media and  the changing approach to Irish history.   Content: 4 Layout: 3 Speed: 3   P               Irish  Cinema     A history of Irish cinema, esp. multiplicity in Irish cinema.   Content: 4 Layout: 3 Speed: 3   P               Power  in the Eye, an Introduction to Contemporary Irish Film & The Crying Game.     A four-page book review  of the book by Terry Byrne including a basic discussion of contemporary Irish cinema.   Content: 4 Layout: 3 Speed: 3   P               EFACIS     This site has a newsletter,  a rather small but essential collection of links and information on forthcoming events in the field of Irish studies.   Content: 3 Layout: 3 Speed: 5   WH               Irish  Cinema     Gathering a number of relevant links to pages on Irish cinema. Note: The  link to the second page is best hit at the  bottom of the right-hand side.   Content: 3 Layout: 4 Speed: 4   P               Sounding the Oirish     The Irish as characters  in drama.   Content: 3 Layout: 3 Speed: 3   P               Coming Times: New Irish Cinema     Provides an overview of  some recent films made in Ireland (synopsis  and some general information.).   Content: 3 Layout: 3 Speed: 3   P               Links to the individual directors:                       John Ford: Filmography     Featuring several articles on each film.   Content: 4 Layout: 3 Speed: 3   P               Screening  the IRA     On �The Informer� and the  IRA in films.   Content: 3 Layout: 3 Speed: 3   P               John Huston: Filmography     Featuring several articles on each film.   Content: 4 Layout: 3 Speed: 3   P               Jim  Sheridan: Filmography     Featuring several articles on each film.   Content: 4 Layout: 3 Speed: 3   P               Neil Jordan: Filmography     Featuring several articles on each film.   Content: 4 Layout: 3 Speed: 3   P

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