UW-Milwaukee: L&S Freshman Scholars Seminars

Fall 2008 Seminars

Celtic Studies

Celtic Film: Fact or Fiction?

John Gleeson, Senior Lecturer

Using the Celtic world as our model, this course will explore the uneasy relationship between historian and filmmaker, and how each responds to issues of representation and identity. Neil Jordan's "Michael Collins" and Mel Gibson's "Braveheart" have been the biggest pieces of Celtic media history in recent years. Its has been argued that "Michael Collins" brought about a profound re-visioning of modern Irish history, and impacted significantly on the Northern Ireland peace process. Likewise Braveheart fueled the movement for a new Scottish Parliament and continues to influence Scottish national identity.

The main purpose of a historical education is to enable students to think historically throughout their lives, whatever the issue under discussion. This involves engaging with media depictions of history. Film by its nature requires that 'facts' be omitted, condensed, exaggerated, altered, or (often) invented. Anachronisms are the order of the day. This can be troublesome for the historian and scholar. We will therefore try to understand better the relationship between fact and fiction in film by introducing students to the basics of historiography and film studies. On the way, we will dart down cultural cul de sacs to discuss such diverse topics as justice vs. mercy, thinking vs. feeling, perspectives on terrorism, Heroes, national and otherwise and hopefully engage in a cacophony of social discourse ranging from the flippant to the portentous.

John Gleeson is co-Director of the Center for Celtic Studies at UWM, and is well-known in the community as a speaker, storyteller, playwright, founder of Milwaukee Irish Arts, and Milwaukee Irish Fest cultural advisor. He is also a founder of the Irish Cultural Heritage Center of Wisconsin. John began his working career at the Guinness Brewery in his native Dublin. There he became fascinated by film, folk life, fairies, fact, fantasy, fable and fiction! John moved to Milwaukee in 1980. He holds a M.A. degree in Applied History and a M.F.A. in Film from the U.W.-Milwaukee. John was voted 1993 "Irishman of the Year," and is numbered among Irish America magazine's "Top 100."

Number: CELTIC 192, SEM 002
Credits: 3 HU
Time: MW 11:00am-12:15pm
Place: BOL B80
Class Number: 60186

© College of Letters and Science, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Freshman Scholars Program, PO Box 413, Holton Hall G18, Milwaukee, WI 53201
Send your questions and comments to L&S Web Team
Last Updated: May 8, 2008


Humanities Africology Celtic Studies Communication Comparative Literature English Ethnic Studies German History Italian Philosophy Women's Studies Natural Science Atmospheric Sciences Biological Sciences Geociences Physics Social Science Africology Anthropology Economics Political Science Psychology Sociology Cultural Diversity English		Fall 2008 Seminars Celtic Studies Celtic Film: Fact or Fiction? John Gleeson, Senior Lecturer Using the Celtic world as our model, this course will explore the uneasy relationship between historian and filmmaker, and how each responds to issues of representation and identity. Neil Jordan's "Michael Collins" and Mel Gibson's "Braveheart" have been the biggest pieces of Celtic media history in recent years. Its has been argued that "Michael Collins" brought about a profound re-visioning of modern Irish history, and impacted significantly on the Northern Ireland peace process. Likewise Braveheart fueled the movement for a new Scottish Parliament and continues to influence Scottish national identity. The main purpose of a historical education is to enable students to think historically throughout their lives, whatever the issue under discussion. This involves engaging with media depictions of history. Film by its nature requires that 'facts' be omitted, condensed, exaggerated, altered, or (often) invented. Anachronisms are the order of the day. This can be troublesome for the historian and scholar. We will therefore try to understand better the relationship between fact and fiction in film by introducing students to the basics of historiography and film studies. On the way, we will dart down cultural cul de sacs to discuss such diverse topics as justice vs. mercy, thinking vs. feeling, perspectives on terrorism, Heroes, national and otherwise and hopefully engage in a cacophony of social discourse ranging from the flippant to the portentous. John Gleeson is co-Director of the Center for Celtic Studies at UWM, and is well-known in the community as a speaker, storyteller, playwright, founder of Milwaukee Irish Arts, and Milwaukee Irish Fest cultural advisor. He is also a founder of the Irish Cultural Heritage Center of Wisconsin. John began his working career at the Guinness Brewery in his native Dublin. There he became fascinated by film, folk life, fairies, fact, fantasy, fable and fiction! John moved to Milwaukee in 1980. He holds a M.A. degree in Applied History and a M.F.A. in Film from the U.W.-Milwaukee. John was voted 1993 "Irishman of the Year," and is numbered among Irish America magazine's "Top 100." Number: CELTIC 192, SEM 002 Credits: 3 HU Time: MW 11:00am-12:15pm Place: BOL B80 Class Number: 60186 Check current enrollment information.
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© College of Letters and Science, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Freshman Scholars Program, PO Box 413, Holton Hall G18, Milwaukee, WI 53201 Send your questions and comments to L&S Web Team Last Updated: May 8, 2008