How
have we treated some of the major figures of the Irish literary canon and what
sort of questions did we explore in our discussion of them? How have you come to understand the fairy,
ghost, and vampire as “signifiers to larger historical, cultural, and social
issues” and what has that come to mean to you?
How have various aspects of literary theory become useful lenses through
which to view literature (and perhaps other “texts,” i.e. film, TV shows,
etc.), and how has the work of close-reading within class discussion, blogs,
and your own papers changed the way you might approach literature in the
future? Finally, what has been your
experience with the production of
literary analysis such as discussions, blogging, and presentations? How have you worked to revise your original
essay and what has that process been like for you? Finally, what has been the most meaningful
literary text, film, or concept that you will take away from this course and
why?
June 13th Discussion Questions
For this "free" blog, use this space as an opportunity to begin a "zero draft" or "discovery draft" for your final reflective essay. A zero draft is your "first attempt" at a piece of writing and should be a place where you discover what it is you want to say. In other words, rather than having an already formed thought or focus, use your writing here as a means of discovery. You should not be concerned about formulating ideas, grammar, spelling, or punctuation. This is free-writing at its most "free." I'll provide the prompt of the Reflective Essay below, but feel free to free-write on any subject related to the course. You may also just want to choose one or two questions and free-write on those.
June 14th Discussion Questions
Martin McDonagh's In Bruges
1) One thing we see in McDonagh's In Bruges is the effects of globalization and the lack of national "boundaries" within the European context. Several cultures are brought together in In Bruges--the Belgian people, naturally, but also Irish, English, American, and Canadian. Describe some of the interactions you see and how McDonagh's film analyzes and breaks down national boundaries.
2) In one seen, Ken and Ray examine a painting called The Last Judgment by Hieronymus Bosch (circa 1450–1516). You can examine the painting here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Bosch_laatste_oordeel_drieluik.jpg What is the significance of this painting in context with the film?
3) Many characters in In Bruges describe the city as looking like a "fairy tale." Given our discussions in class, what is the significance of this description?
4) In an article from The Guardian, the author writes,
Growing up with a childhood dominated across the Irish Sea by the Troubles, McDonagh was innately suspicious of the IRA's armed campaign. He later told the Irish critic and columnist Fintan O'Toole that "I was always coming from a leftwing or pacifist or anarchist angle that started with punk, and which was against all nationalisms."
"McDonagh's work in the theatre and now on film has been powerful, legitimate and relevant," said Damien Smyth, one of Northern Ireland's leading poets.
"When JM Synge wrote Playboy of the Western World there was more outrage in Ireland over a woman coming on to the stage in her nightdress than the murder of the father by the son. McDonagh has made people think about the reality of violence. It is all the more relevant because although he sets some of the plays in a traditional setting, the rural west, the violence he portrays is a very true picture of parts of modern urban Ireland today."
As violent as McDonagh's work may be, do we see a pacifist message emerging from the film In Bruges? Where? Explain your answer.
1) One thing we see in McDonagh's In Bruges is the effects of globalization and the lack of national "boundaries" within the European context. Several cultures are brought together in In Bruges--the Belgian people, naturally, but also Irish, English, American, and Canadian. Describe some of the interactions you see and how McDonagh's film analyzes and breaks down national boundaries.
2) In one seen, Ken and Ray examine a painting called The Last Judgment by Hieronymus Bosch (circa 1450–1516). You can examine the painting here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Bosch_laatste_oordeel_drieluik.jpg What is the significance of this painting in context with the film?
3) Many characters in In Bruges describe the city as looking like a "fairy tale." Given our discussions in class, what is the significance of this description?
4) In an article from The Guardian, the author writes,
Growing up with a childhood dominated across the Irish Sea by the Troubles, McDonagh was innately suspicious of the IRA's armed campaign. He later told the Irish critic and columnist Fintan O'Toole that "I was always coming from a leftwing or pacifist or anarchist angle that started with punk, and which was against all nationalisms."
"McDonagh's work in the theatre and now on film has been powerful, legitimate and relevant," said Damien Smyth, one of Northern Ireland's leading poets.
"When JM Synge wrote Playboy of the Western World there was more outrage in Ireland over a woman coming on to the stage in her nightdress than the murder of the father by the son. McDonagh has made people think about the reality of violence. It is all the more relevant because although he sets some of the plays in a traditional setting, the rural west, the violence he portrays is a very true picture of parts of modern urban Ireland today."
As violent as McDonagh's work may be, do we see a pacifist message emerging from the film In Bruges? Where? Explain your answer.
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