UPLASASE-LAS1096-SEM2-AE-2024-5-F - L-Università ta' Malta

Course Title

LAS1096 - Inventing Ourselves: Expressions of Maltese Identity through Culture Practice

MQF Level

Duration and Credits

Semester 2

4 ECTS

Mode of Study

Part-Time Evening

Information for International applicants

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This micro-credential is offered as part of the programme for the Liberal Arts and Sciences and will only be offered subject to a minimum number of applications received. More information can be found on the PLAS website.

In a world where creative practice is being challenged by automated forms of creation and established cultural identities are under scrutiny from revisionist approaches and cultural gentrification, what does it mean for something to be Maltese?’, and ‘How is that expressed in terms of cultural practice?’

This Unit will explore facets of Maltese Identity that have shaped our current understanding of Maltese culture. It will examine not only historical circumstances, but also contemporary cultural practice from a practical perspective. How do artists respond to cultural stimuli and the concept of being Maltese? More importantly, how do different, something contradictory, narratives converge and emerge through creative processes?

This Unit will focus primarily on performative arts as an immediate manifestation of cultural identity. It will explore such diverse expressions as Maltese ghana, the emergence of a Maltese classical music tradition, and the use of the Maltese language in creative practice. However, it will look beyond the boundaries of performance art, and consider the influence and effects exerted by other factors such as political events, and external cultural phenomena.

The Unit will also look at areas of cultural identity that are often overlooked or taken for granted. This includes public rituals (e.g. festa, football culture, contemporary pop culture), and subversive and satirical approaches to identity.

Lastly, the Unit will also include input from the lecturer who is a composer on personal approaches to matters of cultural identity when it comes to contemporary creative practice.

Main Reading List

Cultural Identity:

Gruen, and Gruen, Erich S. Cultural Identity in the Ancient Mediterranean. Getty Research Institute, 2010.
Hall, S., & Du Gay, P. (Eds.). (1996). Questions of cultural identity. Sage Publications, Inc.
Mulcahy, Kevin V. Public Culture, Cultural Identity, Cultural Policy Comparative Perspectives. 1st ed. 2017.. N.p., 2017.
Zajda, Joseph, and Suzanne Majhanovich. Globalisation, Cultural Identity and Nation-Building: The Changing Paradigms. 1st Edition 2021. Vol. 23. Dordrecht: Springer Netherlands, 2021.

Maltese Culture & Cultural Identity:

Bonello, Borg Cardona, and Bonello, Giovanni. Music in Malta: from Prehistory to Vinyl. Malta]: Fondazzjoni Patrimonju Malti, 2019.
Farrugia, Godfrey. Fireworks?: the Vibrant Celebration of the Maltese Islands. Malta: the author], 2023.
Farrugia, Godfrey, and Patrick J. Fenech. The Maltese Village Festa: a Traditional Yearly Ritual. San Gwann]: BDL, 2016.
Vella Bondin, Joseph. The Great Maltese Composers?: Historical Context, Lives, and Works. Birkirkara]: APS Bank, 2016.

Learning Outcomes: Knowledge and Understanding

By the end of the Unit the student will be able to:

Describe what ‘cultural identity’ means,
Discuss the main aspects of Maltese Identity,
Describe the context in which these elements of Maltese Identity arose and operated,
Demonstrate deeper critical insight into Maltese cultural history,
Demonstrate an awareness of alternative views on cultural identity.

Learning Outcomes: Skills

By the end of the Unit the student will be able to:

Think critically on matters relating to culture,
Analyse cultural matters from different perspectives,
Compare and comment on cultural matters,
Express personal views on national identity and culture in a sensitive and informed manner.

Non EU Applicants:

EUR180

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Micro-credentials offer the possibility of providing flexible learning pathways to respond to evolving needs and new developments, thus enabling students to tailor their studies to their needs. Micro-credentials may be combined or transferred into larger credentials, such as certificates, diplomas and degrees, provided that the relevant programme requirements are met. Applicants wishing to transfer micro-credentials to a programme of study are encouraged to seek the advice of the relevant academic entity.