Irish Academia

Considering I am, in fact, here to study, it seems about time to let that be known. The Irish academic system is pretty different from at home, though subtley. Though I am taking 6 classes, the work load is significantly lighter than the regular 5 class way at home. Some classes have at most 3 graded assignments (including final exams), most only one or two. This will, of course, make certain weeks at the middle and end of term very difficult, but the majority of the time I have little work to do. There is always reading to be done, of course, but there is so little class discussion that it hardly matters if it is done or not (but i always do it, obv). Classes are almost all lecture style, very little student participation. While I have had a lot of this at GW, I'm now used to my small English classes where the professor tries to facilitate as much discussion as possible. While I definetley do not always participate, it is nice to have that option. I suppose I like the lecture style as well, as there is much less pressure when going to class. I guess there is something to be said for both styles. Well, these are my classes:

Irish Literature: I've taken it before at home, but it's a requirement for English Studies. A lot of the works we are doing I've already studied (I've had enough of Gulliver's Travels to last a very long time), but there are also a lot of works, particularly plays of the Revival, that I've not yet read, and am excited about. The class consists of one large lecture a week (400 people) and a small tutorial led by a grad student. Here we have a chance for participation, which is nice, especially because its a really relaxed group focused on discussion.

Twentieth Century Drama: Another requirement, but a good class. Also one big lecture and one tutorial a week. It is pretty varied in its course matter, from Ibsen to Beckett to Tony Kushner.

Ulysses: Joyce! This seminar is small, and only meets once a week. So far, its been wonderful. I'm fairly certain that if I were to attempt to read Ulysses on my own I would give up, so this class is necessary. In reading it along with the class, Joyce's genius is just so much more powerful. And I love my professor - Dr. Anthony Roche. He's so enthusiastic, approachable, and brilliant of course. Turns out he's a pretty eminent Irish Lit scholar. In fact, on my visit to the Yeats exhibit at the National Library of Ireland (which was, by the way, wonderful), I watched a documentary on Yeats and the Literary and Theatre Revival and Roche, along with people like Seamus Heaney and Declan Kiberd, was one of the main people interviewed. It was very exciting for me. And he is also friends with Chris Griffin, my Irish Lit professor at GW, the one who wrote my recommendation for this program, and my absolute fave professor at GW. Anyway, the class is great, as is Ulysses.

The Narrative Art: This Irish Folklore class is wonderfully interesting, and so calming. Basically my professor reads us Irish folk tales each class, twice a week. Of course, there are some academic aspects to it. We learn about the evolution of the stories, classification and collection of the tales and how they basically define Irish culture. It is very interesting. I had a very difficult time understanding my professor at first with his very strong accent, but now I've gotten used to it. Though, I still do not understand when he randomly, and often, switches between English and Irish. And I dont even know how to pronounce his name (Daithi O hOgain). Which probably makes me love him, and the class, even more.

Music and Words: Another Folklore class, about Irish music, its origins, evolutions, and effects on Irish culture. And another professor whose name I cannot pronounce (Rionach ui Ogain), and speaks Irish often in class. And its worth it, considering what a major part of Irish culture its music is, and the fact that we listen to recordings in class. My newfound knowledge becomes especially helpful when listening to live trad in pubs, which happens pretty often.

The Grand Tour: My elective Art History class. Its a 3rd level class (here they classify themselves as 1st, 2nd, or 3rd level as opposed to freshman, sophomore, etc. The rest of my classes are 2nd level), which means its a little tougher than the others. Which really only means the professor takes attendance. Its a great class, about the Irish and British (but focused on the Irish) who took the Grand Tour in the 18th century, mostly to Italy, and how the art they saw and purchased changed the art world back home in Ireland. Its especially interesting because so seldomly do the Irish appear in Art History courses.

Whew! Well, those are my classes. I love that I am learning about all these things, most having to do with Ireland, HERE in Ireland. I can read in Ulysses about Stephen Dedalus strolling Sandymount, and then go there. I can learn about the paintings brought back from Italy, and then go see them in the National Gallery of Ireland. It's wonderful.
In other news, last weekend was my Oxford trip! Which I shall write about next time (worry not, Hayley), that was enough mind exertion for tonight.