Viewpoints : Theoretical Perspectives on Irish Visual Texts

Over the last twenty years, Ireland has undergone significant transformation and, as a consequence, notions of Irish identity and nationality have been in constant flux. For this reason, it is a timely moment to consider visual representations, both past and present, of Irish cultural life, and contribute to conversations about questions such as: What kind of iconic currencies does Ireland have? How should we see them? Are there specific ideological frameworks operating when we imagine Ireland? Can we imagine Irishness differently? Viewpoints explores the ways in which visual texts engage with questions of Irish culture, and the manner in which those texts are received, circulated, and consumed. By way of recourse to a range of theoretical positions that include feminism, psychoanalysis, phenomenology, philosophy, and queer theory, the collection presents multiple and variegated perspectives on Irish texts, culture, society, and life. With essays on theories of visualisation and early Irish photography, adaptation and memory in the diasporic image, identities in Irish photographic art, the advertising of therapeutic 'wellness' sites, as well as essays which read and focus Irish film and television 'differently', this book brings new critical readings to how we 'see' Irish culture.