
This Book Approaches Ulster Protestantism Through Its Theatrical And Cultural Intersection With Politics, Re-establishing A Forgotten History And Engaging With Contemporary Debates. Anchored By The Perspectives Of Ten Writers - Some Of Whom Have Been Notably Active In Political Life - It Uniquely Examines Tensions Going On Within. Through Its Exploration Of Class Division And Drama From The Early Twentieth Century To The Present, The Book Restores The Progressive And Labour Credentials Of The Community's Recent Past Along With Its Literary Repercussions, Both Of Which Appear In Recent Decades To Have Diminished. Drawing On Over Sixty Interviews, Unpublished Scripts, As Well As Rarely-consulted Archival Material, It Shows - Contrary To A Good Deal Of Clichéd Polemic And Safe Scholarly Assessment - That Ulster Protestants Have Historically And Continually Demonstrated A Vigorous Creative Pulse As Well As A Tendency Towards Left Wing And Class Politics. St. John Ervine, Thomas Carnduff, John Hewitt, Sam Thompson, Stewart Parker, Graham Reid, Ron Hutchinson, Marie Jones, Christina Reid, And Gary Mitchell Profoundly Challenge As Well As Reflect Their Communities. Illuminating A Diverse And Conflicted Culture Stretching Beyond Orange Order Parades, The Weaving Together Of The Lives And Work Of Each Of The Writers Highlights Mutual Themes And Insights On Their Identity, As If Part Of Some Grander Tapestry Of Alternative Twentieth-century Protestant Culture. Ulster Protestantism's Consistent Delivery Of Such Dissenting Voices Counters Its Monolithic And Reactionary Reputation.
This book investigates the intersection of Ulster Protestantism with theatrical culture and political identity to challenge the perception of the community as a monolithic, reactionary entity. Dr. Connal Parr, a scholar specializing in modern Irish history and politics, utilizes a framework centered on ten influential writers to reconstruct a history of progressive and labor-oriented political engagement. By analyzing the creative output of these figures, the author argues that a robust tradition of dissent and class-conscious politics has historically existed within the community, often overlooked by contemporary scholarship.
What You Will Find
Scope Limits
Scholars and critics recognize this work as a significant intervention in the study of Northern Irish cultural history, noting its success in diversifying the narrative surrounding Ulster Protestantism. Readers frequently highlight the depth of the archival research and the author's ability to connect individual literary works to broader socio-political trends.
Page Count:
280
Publication Date:
2017-01-01
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
ISBN-10:
019250925X
ISBN-13:
9780192509253
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