Artemis Fowl and Ireland:

Examining the Tensions Between Traditional and Contemporary Ireland as Reflected in Children’s Literature

Brie Michaelson

Thank you!•Dr. Amy Rupiper Taggart•Dr. Miriam Mara

Agenda•Focus•Relevant Literature•Research Question•Discussion

The Emerald Isle

Children’s Literature as a Reflection of Culture

• “Current Research in Children's Literature and Culture: A Conference Report” Maryellen Hains 1986

• “Cultural Values Reflected in Chinese Children’s Stories” Chenyi Zhang 2008

Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer

(Olvas)

Examining the Tensions• Technology• Globalization• Mythology • The Irish Father• Use of the Irish Language

Celtic Tiger• 1995–2007• “Having low tax rates, specifically in the corporate world, helped to attract many investors to Ireland. Ireland also began to offer free higher education to EU citizens” (“The Celtic Tiger”)• “Today, Ireland is the second only to the United States in software exports” (McGowan)

Use of Technology• The fairies are centuries ahead of human technology

• Artemis Fowl II has several patents by age 13 (Artemis Fowl: The Arctic Incident 8)

(“Nutrino”)

Globalization• Defined here as being a part of the global community, knowledgeable

about other cultures

• Tuatha Dé Danann

• Fairies thought to have originated in Ireland

Use of Mythology

Role of the Irish Father• Traditionally the authority figure

Breadwinner, emotionally distant

• Modern Irish father“For men it is now acceptable to be sensitive and compassionate to their children as well as taking an active role within the family” (Brayfield)

Use of the Irish Language• Andrew Carnie- University of Calgary and University of California Native Irish speakers estimated about 80,000 (Carnie 1)

• Irish language revival

Declan Tierney- Connacht Tribune

(Banter)

Artemis Fowl II• Speaks fluent Russian, with an impeccable accent (Artemis Fowl: The Arctic Incident)• Speaks fluent Gnomish (Artemis Fowl)• Various other languages

ReferencesBrayfield, April. "The Irish Family." Tulane University. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 May 2014.Carnie, Andrew. Modern Irish: A Case in Language Revival Failure. The University of Arizona. MIT Working Papers in Linguistics, 1995. Web. 11 Mar. 2014. Colfer, Eoin. Artemis Fowl. New York, NY: Hyperion, 2001. Print. Drew, Eileen P. "Development of Information Technology in Ireland." United Nations University. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Mar. 2014. "Eoin Colfer." And Another Thing... Penguin Books Ltd., 2009. Web. 09 Mar. 2014. Falvey, Hannah. "Celtic Tiger." Irish Financial Crisis. Mount Holyoke College, Winter 2011. Web. 25 Mar. 2014.Gibbons, Luke. Transformations in Irish Culture. Notre Dame, IN: University of Notre Dame, in Association with Field Day 1996. Print.Lindve, Katarina. "A Study on the Artemis Fowl Series in the Context of Publishing Success." Malardalen University, 2009. Web. 10 Mar. 2014. Marx, Karl, and Friedrich Engals. "History of Ireland. Preparatory Material. Engels 1870." History of Ireland. Preparatory Material. Engels 1870. Trans. Andy Blunden. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Mar. 2014. Mays, Michael. "Irish Identity in an Age of Globalization." Irish Studies Review 13.1 (2005). Taylor and Francis Group Ltd. Web. 26 Mar. 2014. Patten, Eve. "Contemporary Irish Fiction." The Cambridge Companion to the Irish Novel. Cambridge: Cambridge UP, 2006. 259-75. Print."Population Distribution." Facts for Features: Irish-American Heritage Month (March) and St. Patrick's Day (March 17): 2011. US Census, n.d. Web. 09 Mar. 2014. Tymoczko, Maria, and Colin A. Ireland. Language and Tradition in Ireland: Continuities and Displacements. Amherst: University of Massachusetts, 2003. Print.

Thank you!