Material Conflicts: Parades and Visual Displays in Northern Ireland

by Neil Jarman

Overview

The deep and abiding sectarian divide splintering Northern Ireland has been the focus of considerable attention recently. In particular, the role parades and visual displays play in underscoring opposition has come into the spotlight with the emergence of heightened tensions, close on the heels of a tentative peace. Providing penetrating insights into the historical roots of Northern Ireland's ethnic hostilities, this timely book explores the role of images and material culture in shaping present attitudes. Ritual, identity, class and memory are shown to be potent forces informing trenchant animosities — animosities which are visually reflected in banners and murals for unionists and nationalists alike. The pivotal role of the Twelfth of July parade in Belfast, when an estimated 100,000 either parade or watch the Orangemen, is highlighted. Anyone interested in the future of Northern Ireland and concerned about escalating conflict across the globe will warmly welcome this impressive study.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781859731246
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	05/01/1997
Series:	Explorations in Anthropology
Pages:	304
Product dimensions:	5.44(w) x 8.50(h) x (d)

About the Author

Neil Jarman The Queen's University of Belfast

Table of Contents

1 The Performance of Memory Part I: The Tradition of Parading 2 A Custom Established, 1690-1790 Riotous Assemblies, 3 1769-1850 4 Parading Identity, 1870-1968 Part II: Two Communities 5 The Glorious Twelfth 6 The Endless Parade 7 Our Day Will Come - Parading Irish Nationalism Part III: Displaying Faith 8 Trust in God, But Keep Your Powder Dry 9 A Nation Once Again Part IV: Painting the Streets 10 At the Going Down of the Sun 11 Hungering for Peace 12 In Conclusion

Editorial Reviews

An impressive work. Its concern is the role of commemorative parades, banners and wall murals in the production and reproduction of collective and social memory, and of community as the bearer and custodian of memory. Jarman is not the first to take on these topics but he has done so more comprehensively and with greater subtlety and insight than anyone to date.” —Sociology

“this book offers a wide-ranging and infomative discussion of the symbolic andmaterial importance of marching in the politics of everyday life in Northern Ireland. For those uninitiated in the cultural politics of parading this book forms an invaluable guide. The variety of source material used and the clear style of the prose makes it highly readable. Material Conflicts is to be commended for its breadth of discussion. . .Neil Jarman's commendable study provides an essential point of departure for those who may wish to explore these issues further.” —Jourbanal of Material Culture

“An impressive work. . . Jarman is not the first to take on these topics, but he has done so more comprehensively and with greater subtlety and insight than anyone to date. ” —Joseph Ruane, University College, Cork

“Clearly written and richly detailed . . . . An important contribution to the ethnography of the "Troubles." It also offers a very valuable "case study" for those interested in the analysis of political ritual, with special and very effective attention to the power and potential of iconography.” —Anthropological Quarterly

From the Publisher

Explores the role of images and material culture in shaping present attitudes in Northern Ireland and provides insights into the historical roots of ethnic hostilities there. Ritual, identity, class, and memory are shown to be potent forces informing trenchant animosities, which are visually reflected in banners and morals for unionists and nationalists alike. The pivotal role of the 12th of July parade in Belfast is highlighted. Distributed by New York University Press. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.

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