Exploring the Concept of Walls - by Frank O'Hagan

These slides were presented by Frank O'Hagan, from the University of Glasgow, at the UNESCO RILA Spring School: The Arts of Integrating 2024 (Word Springs) on 22 May 2024. For more information about the event, please visit https://www.gla.ac.uk/research/az/unesco/events/springschool/

1. Exploring the Concept of Walls Dr Frank O’Hagan

2. Xenophobia Analyse the concept of xenophobia by looking examples of walls, both fabricated walls e.g. the Berlin Wall, Belfast Wall, the wall in Bethlehem and the wall between USA and Mexico and attitudinal walls

3. Examples of Attitudinal Walls Xenophobia Racism Sexism Homophobia Prejudice Misogyny Discrimination

4. X enophobia The ancient Greek words which together make up the English word xenophobia are interesting and relevant to this presentation. They both have double meanings or translations: ie Xenos ( ξένoς ) can be translated as “a stranger” or “a foreigner” or “an enemy” and Phobos ( фó βoς) can be translated as “a fear of” or “a hatred of”.

5. The Berlin Wall The primary intention for the Wall's construction was to prevent East German citizens from fleeing to the West. The fall of the Berlin Wall paved the way for German reunification, which formally took place on 3 October 1990.

6. Belfast The Belfast Peace Walls were erected in a bid to reduce tensions in the city between Loyalist and Nationalist communities. Sometimes the conflict is painted as a sectarian argument – between Protestants and Catholics – but arguably it’s really about politics.

7. Another Wall Frank O’Hagan I don’t want to talk to you I disagree with your point of view I’ll build a wall, I’ll build a wall I don’t want to cooperate So why should we communicate I’ll build a wall, I’ll build a wall I’ll build it high so you can’t climb over it Build it long so you can’t go round Build it deep so you can’t go under it ‘Cause we don’t need no common ground In the Holy Land they had a similar plan Why should we be decent to our fellow man? They built a wall another wall Those two parties could not agree So the children there will never see the sea Just a wall, another wall Some people build bridges to community So that they can turn the hatred around But we can use our power with impunity And we can always tear them down Berlin, Belfast, Bethlehem My big walls trumps all of them I’ve built a wall, another wall

8. Why walls and not bridges?

9. Why walls and not bridges? Explores the concept of xenophobia by looking at examples of fabricated walls e.g. the Berlin Wall, Belfast Wall, the wall in Bethlehem and, in particular, the wall between USA and Mexico. In the final weeks of his presidency in January 20, 2021, Donald Trump returned to the signature issue that brought him to the White House — his pledge to build “a beautiful, gorgeous, big wall” on the southern border. On two separate occasions, Trump has said he is “completing the wall, like I said I would” and that it is “almost finished.” In fact, the wall is nothing more than a fence and is just replacing an existing barrier the purpose of which was to keep people out of the country. It has not achieved its intended goal.

10. Another Wall Frank O’Hagan