Open lecture: “The Horrors of Motherhood in Irish Film: a study of representation and industry participation”

“Meno avilys” continues the series of discussions and lectures of the Cinematheque, which goes beyond the boundaries of the academic community because together with today’s film and culture researchers, it invites all interested in moving images to expand their knowledge.

On February 1st, at 7:00 p.m., the lecture “The Horrors of Motherhood in Irish Film: a study of representation and industry participation” is delivered by Dr. Sarah Arnold (Assistant Professor of Media, Maynooth University) and Dr. Anne O’Brien (Associate Professor in the Department of Media Studies, Maynooth University) at the Meno Avilys’ Cinematheque (A. Goštauto St. 2, Vilnius).

The lecture is delivered in English. The event is free of charge.

About the lecture:

In this talk, we explore the intersections between how motherhood is represented on screen in Irish horror films such as “You Are Not My Mother” and “The Hole in the Ground” and outline the sometimes horrible ways in which working mothers are treated in the film and television industries. 

Lecturers’ bio:

Dr. Sarah Arnold is an Assistant Professor of Media at Maynooth University, Ireland. She researches women’s role in media, particularly film and television, and has published on women’s representation in horror films (“Maternal Horror Film”, 2013) and women’s work in early television (“Gender & Early Television”, 2021). Her research is also concerned with media work and career development (“Media Graduates at Work”, with Anne O’Brien and Páraic Kerrigan, 2021). 

Dr. Anne O’Brien is an Associate Professor in the Department of Media Studies at Maynooth University, Ireland. She has published a number of articles on the representation of women in radio and television, on women workers in creative industries, and examined why women leave careers in screen production. Her 2019 book explores “Women, Inequality and Media Work” (Routledge) and her most recent co-edited collection explores “Media Work, Mothers and Motherhood” (Routledge, 2021). She has also published on media work and career development (“Media Graduates at Work”, with Sarah Arnold and Páraic Kerrigan, 2021). 

Recommended books, published by lecturers, can be found on the shelves of Cinematheque:

• Arnold, S. “Maternal Horror Film: Melodrama and Motherhood”. Basingstoke: Palgrave (2013) 
• O’Brien, A. “Women, inequality and media work”. Routledge: London & New York (2019) 
• O’Brien, A., Kerrigan, P., Arnold, S. “Media Graduates at Work: Irish Narratives on Policy, Education and Industry”. Basingstoke: Palgrave (2021) 
• O’ Brien, A & Liddy, S. “Media Work, Mothers and Motherhood”. Routledge: London & New York (2021) 

Articles by lecturers are recommended:

• O’Brien, A., Kerrigan, P., Liddy, S. (2022) “Conceptualising change in equality, diversity and inclusion: A case study of the Irish film and television sector”. European Journal of Cultural Studies
• O’ Brien, A & Arnold, S. (2022) “Imagining Diversity: An Irish Case Study of Graduates’ Perceptions of Inequality in Media Work”. Alphaville: Journal of Film and Screen Media, (24):32-48. https://www.alphavillejournal.com/ContentsIndex.html
• O’ Brien, A. & Liddy, S. (2021) “The Price of Motherhood in the Irish Film and Television industries’ Gender, Work and Organisation”  
• O’ Brien, A & Arnold, S (2021) “Doing Women’s Film and Television History: Locating Women in Film and Television, Past and Present”. Alphaville: Journal of Film and Screen Media

“Meno avilys” co-organizes the lecture with the Institute of International Relations and Political Science (Vilnius University) and the Department of Art History and Theory (Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre).