Modern and Contemporary
Academics working on twentieth century and contemporary writing undertake research in two main areas: early twentieth century culture and modernism; and post-war literature and culture.
Much recent research in the Department has been concerned with the meaning of nationhood and citizenship, particularly in relationship to conflict. Monographs have been published on the First World War's impact on colonial identity; the cultural history of Ireland during the Second World War; and the complex and contested history of the term Zionism in relation to contemporary political debates about Israel and Palestine. A major piece of research is currently being completed on the place of humanism in artistic representations of World War One.
Several researchers are also engaged in projects which seek to analyse the contexts of literary production in the early twentieth century. Work has been carried out into the interaction between literary modernism and a host of other discourses, amongst them psychoanalysis, labour theory, economics, and theology. The Department also has strengths in the role and representation of classical drama within twentieth century culture.
Staff working in these areas include:
- Michèle Barrett
- Santanu Das
- Katie Fleming
- Suzanne Hobson
- Jacqueline Rose
- Morag Shiach
- Andrew Van Der Vlies
- Clair Wills