This article was written by The Zillennial Zine’s senior fall editorial intern Arianna Nahim. Find her on Instagram at @ariannanahim. If you would like to share an article with The Zillennial, send us an email at thezillennialzine@gmail.com.
When many people think of Ireland the first thing to come to mind may be a novelty like leprechauns, rainbows, different accents, or a pot of gold. But what many don’t realize is that there is so much more to Ireland. Ireland and Irish culture are rich in history that clearly influences the artistic drive of citizens making their productions so uniquely great.
Art is said to be best under suffering. A lot of art is rooted in devastation, yearning, and loss. Art lends itself to the Irish because they come from a place full of these feelings. Ireland was colonized by the British, they’d later experience the Potatoe Famine because of this colonization. The memory of this devastating famine still echoes throughout the land. In the 1920s the Irish would go through a brutal civil war. For thirty years the country would be caught in The Troubles, generations upon generations would enter a restless world. Through these restless and tragic times, it seems the Irish, especially Irish artists would inherit devastation, a yearning for peace, and mourning a loss of individualism from the British and their neighbors in these various strifes.
As someone who absorbs just about every form of media, I’ve noticed that many of my favorite pieces have Irish origins. I find this interesting as art is not something typically directly associated with the people of Ireland. However, if you take a deep dive, you’ll see that the Irish have a lot to offer in the art department and never disappoint.
Irish Literature
Being a literature student, I’ve read my share of fiction. Whether it be the classics, fantasy, science fiction, or romance I’ve probably read hundreds of books at this point. Even though I’ve read many books I believe that I still have a lot to learn. However, one thing I am confident that I know is that any book written by an Irish author, especially with the background of Ireland itself, will always be stupendous. In fact, a coming-of-age novel set in Ireland is easily my favorite. I always become totally immersed in these stories. The most recent I’ve read was called, “The Rachel Incident.” But the book that set this love aflame was Sally Rooney’s, “Normal People.” It’s a very popular book and for good reason.
“Normal People,” centers around youth and miscommunication. The main characters come from two very different social classes and uncoincidentally the story takes place during the Irish economic turndown. Connel, the male protagonist, experiences the isolation and disconnect driven by capitalism and exacerbated by the economic struggle Ireland currently faces in the story. Marianne, the female protagonist, on the other hand fails to see this side of Connel’s world, simple because of unrelatability. Marianne is easily able to fit into college life, a big pond, partly because she has the financial freedom to do so. Connel though found success in conformity in high school, a small pond, a place where wealth was less at the forefront of fitting in. Sally Rooney has the advantage of firsthand experience coming from Ireland that makes this story come alive and provides her with an authentic connection to the story that makes a wildly popular work globally.
The Irish On The Screen
The world of movies and television is one that appears glamorous. The action-packed movies supported by huge budgets. The soap operas center around gorgeous actors who also happen to be performing groundbreaking surgeries. But one area that is worth noting is the Irish’s influence on the screen.
This year especially we’ve seen a surge in Irish actors. Barry Keogan, Paul Mescal, and Saoirse Ronan, are three pillars in the next generation of Irish actors. Each have found success in entertainment and channel the emotional turmoil they’ve inherited from their native lands. In a social media post, I saw about a week ago, it made light of the fact that Cillian Murphy, an Irish actor, was not impressed in meeting members of the Royal Family. A similar experience was shared by actor Paul Mescal who was equally unimpressed with the prospect of meeting the King. However, something pointed out by a Twitter user was that actors like Murphy grew up during The Troubles and saw its lasting and devastating consequences firsthand. It’s no wonder both have little interest in a possible interaction with the King as they still carry the British actions in their blood.
Now, as for examples of Irish shows or movies there are plenty. Some stand outs from the top of my mind are one of my favorite shows, “Derry Girls.” While it’s a comedic show, the backdrop of this series is the center of The Troubles. But the Derry Girls keep living, showing that despite conflict, at their core teenagers are still teenagers and yearn to experience all that adolescence has to offer.
Another work I want to quickly note is, “The Banshees of Inisherin.” This movie revolves a friendship gone sour between two men amidst the Irish Civil War. But what they represent is the tension brought on by community, the individual, and the senseless conflict that can be brought on. A civil war is an in-house conflict where neighbors turn against each other and must abandon their connection to each other, much like what happens to the friendship in this movie.
Irish Music
Music is one of the more outwardly pieces of media that is influenced by something like culture and history. The Cranberries for example, besides their hit “Linger,” they have more songs than just one that revolves around a situationship. “Zombies,” this song is less of a metaphor and more so forwardly discusses The Troubles. The Cranberries highlight the bombs, the tanks, and the childhood and lives taken from this conflict. So next time you blast what may come off as just a grungy song, take the time to inspect the real influence Irish musicians have injected into their veins.
Honestly, I could name about three more examples for each section I mentioned. However, if I did that this article would be easily, twice as long. Art is the lasting impression it has on humanity. Through all forms of art, humans have had the power to demonstrate a more intimate and compassionate side to each other. The beauty of Irish art is its connection with the history of Ireland and its culture. Combined, Irish art lends itself to inspiration and greatness.
What did you like more the book or TV show adaptation of Normal People?
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