NEU in Belfast: City, Culture, Society

Overview

This is a compulsory module for all Northeastern University (NU) students on the NU.in programme at Queen’s. It will ground students in the city, cultures, histories and representations of Belfast. Across six separate events or field trips, three of which will relate to the history and politics of the city and three to the arts and culture of Belfast, students will engage with a vibrant and diverse range of aspects of the city in which they will be studying. Options for visits and field trips include:



Arts & culture History & politics

Lyric Theatre Belfast City Hall

QFT Stormont

Heaney Centre Readings Ulster Museum

Ulster Hall Titanic Belfast

The MAC Hillsborough Castle

Golden Thread Gallery Murals and Peace Walls

Belfast International Arts Festival Museum of Orange Heritage

Oh Yeah Music Centre Cultúrlann

Learning Objectives

Understand key aspects of Belfast/NI history, culture, and politics

Differentiate between particular historic, political or cultural events

Appreciate contemporary representations of the city

Situate contemporary Belfast within relevant political, historical and cultural frames

Identify specific characteristics unique to Belfast’s history and culture

Skills

Develop effective communication skills in written and oral contexts

Appropriately analyse chosen arts and culture event

Appropriately analyse chosen history and politics event

Enhanced research and analytical skills

Flexibility and sensitivity in responding to sites of historical, cultural, and political importance

Assessment

Portfolio (2 writing exercises; e.g., reviews, brief tourist guide blurbs, short essay on one of the historic site events)