Cornwall - this name conjures up vivid images of beautiful but also ragged and wild coastline alongside memories of mining industry, fishing and (often illegal) trade with the continent. Recently, a distinct Cornish identity has been emphasised, with St Piran's flag on every corner and calls for a Cornish National Assembly amid a recollection of Celtic roots. In a United Kingdom where devolution and regional differences are becoming more and more salient, this is an interesting development which merits academic attention. In this seminar, we will therefore delve into Cornwall's past in order to understand its present and discover how Cornish cultural traditions, myths, inhabitants and its outstanding natural environment are presented and used in political discourse and by identity-related movements and how Cornwall is portrayed in (popular) cultural products and productions.

Workload: Regular attendance, preparation of set texts, oral presentation, term paper (4,000 words)