Gerry Smyth reconstitutes the category of "space" as a crucial element within contemporary cultural, literary, and historical studies in Ireland. This book is based on the dual premise of an explosion of interest in the category of space in modern cultural criticism and social enquiry, and the consolidation of Irish studies as a significant field of inquiry across a number of institutional and intellectual contexts. Besides a methodological-theoretical introduction and two case studies, the book includes an auto-critical dimension which extends its interest into the fields of local history and life-writing.
Author(s): Gerry Smyth
Year: 2001
Language: English
Pages: 250
Cover......Page 1
Contents......Page 8
List of Maps......Page 10
List of Abbreviations......Page 11
Some Aphorisms and Definitions......Page 13
Preface and Acknowledgements......Page 15
Philosophy......Page 20
Ecocriticism......Page 26
Postmodern geography......Page 30
Marxism......Page 34
Ireland and the 'special relationship'......Page 38
Conclusion......Page 41
Travel and tourism......Page 43
Mapping/naming......Page 59
Poetry......Page 75
The country and the city......Page 95
3 The Location of Criticism, or, Putting the 'I' into 'Ireland'......Page 112
The River Dodder......Page 119
Tallaght......Page 127
Firhouse......Page 136
Conclusion: homework......Page 146
4 Big Mistakes in Small Places: Exterior and Interior Space in Seamus Deane's Reading in the Dark......Page 149
Reading in the Dark......Page 152
Derry......Page 155
Aileach......Page 159
Borders and bridges......Page 165
House......Page 170
Conclusion......Page 176
Introduction: mapping the beat......Page 178
U2: space and place......Page 185
Into the arms of America......Page 195
Conclusion......Page 204
Notes......Page 207
Bibliography......Page 222
B......Page 238
C......Page 239
E......Page 240
H......Page 241
K......Page 242
M......Page 243
P......Page 244
S......Page 245
U......Page 246
Y......Page 247
