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Publication detail

Conflict in Northern Ireland Reflected in Contemporary Crime Fiction

Authors: Roebuck Olga

Year: 2017

Type of publication: ostatní - přednáška nebo poster

Page from-to: nestránkováno

Titles:

Language	Name	Abstract	Keywords
eng	Conflict in Northern Ireland Reflected in Contemporary Crime Fiction	The paper analyses contemporary popular literature and its fusion of genres. The traditional debate on the legitimacy of popular fiction culminated in 1980´s and established popular writing as a phenomenon which cannot be dismissed as unworthy of academic interest. Indeed, the development and intermingling of genres as well as tendencies to address pressing issues in popular writing, e.g. in crime fiction, offer more and more interesting analyses. The presented discussion specifically considers Ian Rankin´s novel Mortal Causes and the way in which it addresses the Northern Irish conflict and especially the Scottish involvement in it. The novel makes interesting historical and social connotations, which extend far beyond the borders of the traditional image of crime fiction/popular writing. It offers much space for analysing the traditionally strong Scottish – Irish ties and suggests many connecting points as well as divisions between the two nations continually struggling to re-affirm their identities. It provides a portrait of very much divided societies attempting to hide under unifying cultural labels, which only enhances the problems between individual “interest” groups. Rankin has an interesting way of working with cultural icons (e.g. Edinburgh, the Fringe Festival etc.) undermining their traditional perception and offering new original meanings.	sectarian violence; crime fiction; Northern Ireland; Ian Rankin