Teaching
Over the last years, I have been teaching different seminars for the School of English, the Department of German and the Film and Screen Media Department at UCC, Cork.
I have also helped establish, design and taught modules at the UCC Skills Centre. Find a selection of classes below.
Current Teaching
FX3012: Memory and History in Film
GE0008: Languages for all module
GE1101: Integrated German Language Course (BA 1st Year)
GE2101/2801: Integrated German Language Course/for BComm Students (BA 2nd Year): Reading and Writing, Translation into English
GE3101/3801: Integrated German Language Course/for BComm Students (BA 3rd Year): Translation into English, Discussion and Essay Writing
GE6014: German-English-German Translation: Methods and Practice (MA Translation Studies)
PX3001: Professional Work Experience Module
GE3309 and GE3310: German Work Placement in Germany or Austria
Modules at the Skills Centre at UCC
How to Write an Essay
How to Build an Academic Argument
Unpacking the Question
Grammar and punctuation
Note-Taking and Study Skills
Editing and Proofreading
Writing Clinics and 1-2-1 sessions
Previous Modules in Higher Education
EN2006/EN2007: From Douglass to Django: Representing North American Slavery in Literature and Film (2019)
FX6017: Film and Screen Cultures and Industries (2018)
EN2006/EN2007: From Douglass to Django: Representing North American Slavery in Literature and Film (2017)
FX6017: Film Promotion, Distribution and Exhibition: Selected Case Studies (2017)
EN2006/EN2007: From Douglass to Django: Representing North American Slavery in Literature and Film (2016)
EN1003: Introduction to Modern Literature (2015, 2016)
German Evening Courses: German A1-A1.2
Selected Modules
"From Douglass to Django: Representing North American Slavery in Literature and Film"
The depiction of racial minorities such as African Americans has changed over the last decades and the film industry is experiencing a period of transition towards new images of black identity. In this context, this seminar explores the representation of slavery and African Americans with reference to a range of North American texts and films. Issues explored include the slave narrative genre, its purpose, background and developments from the 19th century to its 21st century form the cinematic slave narrative. Wediscuss a variety of responses to stereotypes of (enslaved) African Americans as well as the representation of slavery on page and on screen. Students compare historical versus modern-day race/racism and slavery and reflect on key terms such as identity, gender and race and examine the authenticity of slave narratives as well as the role of abolitionists. As a practical element of this class, students are taking part in a website project for the course or by starting a Students Ending Slavery Chapter at UCC. This class is taught through a Blended Learning approach (online classroom and traditional classroom work).
Social Media and Reception: The Rise and Fall of #TheBirthOfaNation (Case Study of Nate Parker’s and D.W. Griffith’s The Birth of a Nation
In fall 2017, I taught part of an MA course entitled "Film Promotion, Distribution and Exhibition: selected Case Studies" at University College Cork. This class compares approaches to advertising D.W. Griffith's 1915 The Birth of a Nation and Nate Parker's attempts to use social media such as Twitter to promote his The Birth of a Nation in 2016. We also explore how both films were received by audiences and whether parallels can be drawn in terms of approaches, social context, and political situation.
Photo source: “New ‘Birth of a Nation’ Posters Recall D.W. Griffith KKK Propaganda Film.” The Hollywood Reporter, http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/new-birth-a-nation-posters-933819. Accessed 15 Sept. 2017.
Free the Slaves Project
As part of one of my classes, a small group of dedicated students and I started a Students Ending Slavery Chapter at UCC, the first one of its kind in Ireland. Currently, we are working on becoming a UCC Society. To learn more about these projects, please click below.