Cinematic films can help students traveling to Ireland look beyond their stereotypes of redheaded leprechauns and drunken Irishmen, and introduce them to the dramatized issues of Irish history, politics, class, and gender. Used in conjunction with an international study abroad program, film can add layers of enrichment to travel providing context to historical events and landmarks. For example, films that provide a cinematic context to the 1916 Easter Uprising, the war of independence, and The Troubles in Northern Ireland, create an awareness of Ireland’s history and its struggles for freedom. They provide students with a richer and more significant experience in country. Historical depictions in Michael Collins (Neil Jordan, 1996) and In the Name of the Father (Jim Sheridan, 1993) present sympathetic portraits of the individuals featured. While films that portray the Irish during specific periods in history, such as The Wind that Shakes the Barley (Ken Loach, 2006) and The Commitments (Alan Parker, 1991) provide students with insights into the complexities of contemporary times. These films set the stage for investigation and discussion as students travel across the country – squaring on-screen accounts with first-hand experiences at historical sites and in understandings of current political and social environments. This article outlines the benefits and challenges of using film as an introduction to Irish history and culture as part of a university-based study abroad program. Reflections from students contribute to the analysis of the films selected and highlight the connections fostered by film between the students and their Irish experience.
About the presenterKatherine Anne Hughes
Katherine A. Hughes (Ph.D., Syracuse University) is an assistant professor in the Communications Department at Elizabethtown College (PA). Her research interests include visual communications, social media, and online learning.