Professional blog

Question:

Helena Sheehan writes that “television at its best has been conscious of its role in creating contemporary myth and its continuity with past myth”.
Outline your understanding of television drama functioning as myth with reference to specific programmes in a specific (Irish,) historical context.

Television drama, particularly in an Irish context, can function as a contemporary myth-making medium, weaving cultural narratives that reflect, critique, and shape the collective consciousness of a society. This essay explores how television drama in Ireland has acted as a vehicle for myth-making, reflecting historical and cultural shifts. It has played a huge role in shaping and reflecting the cultural and social fabric of the nation.

Helena Sheehan suggests this medium is at its best when it is conscious of its role in creating contemporary myths, thereby continuing the legacy of past myths (Sheehan, n.d.). The concept of myth in this context transcends the traditional notion of ancient gods and heroes; it encompasses shared narratives that provide a society with its values, norms, and collective identity. In Ireland, television drama has evolved alongside the oppopoonation’s socio-political changes, offering a lens through which to view the transformation of Irish society and its myths (Sheehan, n.d.)

With the advent of independence, a new Ireland emerged with a unique national identity. Rejecting the cultural influence of the British colonizer, Ireland established its own culture and traditions (Cronin, 1996). This meant examining Irish history and tradition to develop a modern, original cultural heritage. Old myths about the British as conquerors and civilizers were rejected, and new interpretations of the colonial experience emerged. To help the Irish population understand and deal with these events, many historical dramas were produced for television. These dramas provided different perspectives of history and mythology.

“Myth” is a complex story that explains universal and local beginnings and how the world and humanity emerge and function. Myths are often sacred and serve as a way of defining and preserving a culture (Campbell, 1972). They appear in various forms, from written narratives to pictures and even dance. Myths answer the mysteries of the world and humanity, establish behaviour models, and provide a charter for the rights and wrongs of life. Myths are stories that mirror our dilemmas in society and reflect the fears and virtues present.

Mythology is an integral part of culture and tradition, dealing with the origin of man and the history of a people. In Irish television dramas, mythical reconstructions of the past often serve as indirect social commentaries on contemporary issues. Myth serves as a form of optimistic therapy, where individuals imagine alternative outcomes to events. The importance of television drama as a modern medium for creating national myths will be discussed, followed by a more detailed examination of significant television dramas in recent times. Myth, in a universal sense, is a set of beliefs or assumptions about how the world is and how it came to be that way (Sheehan, n.d.)