UNDERGRADUATE MODULE OFFERINGS 2014-15
School of History and Anthropology
Module code HIS3109
Module title: Age of Anxiety: culture and society in interwar Ireland
MODULE CONVENOR: Fearghal McGarry
TEACHING STAFF: Fearghal McGarry
ESTIMATED COURSE SIZE: 12-24
COURSE CONTENTS (max 500 characters)
This module explores the cultural and social history of Southern Ireland (1919-1939) within a
comparative European perspective. Within Ireland, this was a period shaped by the aftermath
of the Great War and the Irish Revolution, the pursuit of an independent Irish State, and the
desire to construct and assert Irish national identity at home and abroad. Within Europe, the
interwar era was characterized by crisis as the post-war optimism of the 1920s gave way to
economic depression, the decline of liberal democracy, and a drift to political extremism and
war. Irish and European society was characterized by growing public and intellectual unease
as the impact of the Great War, the rise of new ideologies such as fascism and communism,
and radical social, cultural and technological developments were seen to undermine
traditional society. By focusing on the theme of anxiety – explored through such topics as
gender, morality, sexuality, the body, technology, sport, spectacle, mass media and the role of
the state – this module assesses the extent to which Irish society was influenced by the sort of
concerns and influences prevalent throughout interwar Europe.
REQUIREMENTS:
Attendance at weekly one-hour lectures and two-hour seminars; reading of primary source
documents and at least three chapters/articles per week.
Compulsory elements (MAX. 500 CHARACTERS)
Students will write two terms essays and one presentation.
GOALS & SKILLS: (300 WORDS)
On completion of this module, students will be able to demonstrate:
● An ability to identify key issues and themes of the interwar period.
● An understanding of the importance of the social, economic and cultural forces which
contributed to the prevailing anxieties of the interwar period
● An ability to assess and evaluate a range of approaches to key social and cultural themes in
interwar Ireland and Europe
● An ability to identify and analyse points of similarity and difference between the Irish and
European interwar experience
● Familiarity with key primary source documents of the period, and an ability to analyse
these.
TEACHING CONTACT HOURS:
A weekly 90 minute lecture and a weekly 90 minute seminar.
MODULE ASSESSMENT
Assessment Profile:
Element type
Exam
Two essays
Tutorial participation
Element weight(%)
50%
20% & 20%
10%
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: (OPTIONAL)
The recommended textbooks for this module are:
Richard Overy, The inter-war crisis (Harlow, 2007 ed)
Diarmaid Ferriter, The transformation of Ireland (London, 2004)