The purpose of this module is twofold: firstly to introduce students to some of the major intellectual debates about national and cultural identities in a number of European cultures and secondly to analyse the textual representations of the issue of national, regional, or European identity in a variety of literary forms as well as other media, such as novels, poems, cinema, visual art, classical and popular music etc. Upon completion of this module, students should be able to understand more fully the cultural framework of contemporary Europe and the interaction between competing and complementary identities within its borders.

This module will explore a selection of the fundamental issues which impact on the debates on regional, national, European identity in contemporary Europe, and in a number of EU member states. It will investigate the coexistence and tensions between regional, national, supranational or ethnic identities as well as historical events which shaped post-war concepts of national identity in various EU countries. The experience of migrants which adds to the complexity of the issue of cultural identity and highlights the multi-cultural nature of contemporary European societies while questioning traditional concepts of national identity will also be studied. The issues and ideas are approached though the media of literary texts, film, visual art, music etc. in order to ascertain the particular contribution and perspective of such texts within this debate. The approach will be through case studies which will include the discussion of texts from countries such as Ireland, France, Germany, Austria, Spain, Italy and the Netherlands. These case studies will form the basis for a comparative analysis with a view of defining the similarities and dissimilarities in debates about cultural identity in contemporary European cultures. The question of emerging European cultural identities will also be discussed.

On successful completion of this module, students will be able to: Demonstrate a critical and cogent awareness of key theoretical approaches to concepts of identity. Identify and critically assess intellectual debates about national and cultural identity in a number of European cultures. Analyse textual representations of issues of identity in a variety of literary forms, cinema and other media from a comparative perspective. Discuss the role of contemporary literature, film and other cultural products in the construction and deconstruction of identities. Compare and contrast different textual representations of cultural identity in verbal and written forms.

On successful completion of this module, students will be able to: Evaluate the cultural framework of contemporary Europe and the interaction between competing and complementary identity within its borders.

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The module will be taught by lecture, tutorial discussion, film screenings, assigned and recommended reading and viewing, and by research-based critical writing. Students will learn by listening to and engaging with lectures, reading primary and secondary sources (both assigned and recommended), watching films critically, engaging in discussion in tutorials, giving presentations and writing analytical/critical papers.