Welcome to Celtic Cinema...

The cinemas of Ireland, Scotland and Wales have experienced a creative explosion over the last ten years, and this explosion has been accompanied by substantial critical interest. This course will study selective films from these nations, while also taking an introductory look at the industries and audiences that support these films. The emphasis is on films of the last decade, but will begin with early representations of Celtic cultures, most of which are external representations. We will investigate the concept of national cinemas by exploring several discrete but interrelated topics. As such, the course is not designed to be an exhaustive survey of Celtic cinemas, but instead will focus the lens more sharply on specific cultural themes, cinematic motifs, and developments in the industries themselves. Each film will be studied as a unique and individual artistic creation, as well as for its resonance with other Celtic films, and its relationship to broader questions of Celtic culture.

Several underlying questions will shape our journey: How can we define a “Celtic” cinema? Is there a distinct and identifiable Celtic aesthetic? How can we begin to define and understand the nature of filmic representation? What is the relationship between film and culture, and how does each one shape the other? How useful for the study of film is the concept of Celtic identity under current national or post-national political arrangements? Our method will be to pursue close readings of the films – including stylistic analysis and narration – along with a broader study of the cultural issues that shape the films’ narratives.