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HardensWeakChin t1_j6b40bu wrote

Reply to comment by tormunds_beard in The Banshees of Inisherin’s Writer-Director Has Made a Career of “Irishness.” It’s All a Load of Blarney by HanSoloHeadBeg

I wonder if he'd be insinuating the same stuff if two Mexican parents moved to the US, had a kid, spent a good amount of summers in Mexico with their kid, and that kid went on to write and direct movies about Mexican issues or the Mexican Revolution.

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-SneakySnake- t1_j6ba83e wrote

I grew up with the plays they're talking about, there's a point here. The overall argument is that McDonagh is still using the hoary old tropes and trappings that were considered tired a century ago. It's a matter of taste, really, it's a bit like a modern remix of that period of Irish canon. The author compares him to Tarantino and I'd argue that's a fair comparison because Tarantino does the same thing, taking old tropes and concepts, mixing them up, and adding his own sheen to them. Whether that's merely competent, or it elevates the material or it's complete hackery kinda depends on the individual.

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Dottsterisk t1_j6c8qa5 wrote

Yeah, kinda sad to see the sub dismiss this essay off a kneejerk reaction to the title and a single point in the first paragraphs.

It is, without doubt, one of the best critical examinations that I’ve read on this sub in a long time. The author clearly knows the Irish literary tradition very well and it’s fascinating to read about how McDonagh’s works fit into that history.

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