At a time when many leading early 20th century writers wrote of Jews in a derogatory manner, James Joyce rose as an exception in creating an Irish Jew as the hero of his groundbreaking novel Ulysses. JAMES JOYCE AND THE JEWS explores the author's preparation to create Leopold Bloom and the profound significance of James Joyce's groundbreaking creative choice.
James Joyce’s Ulysses, widely regarded as the most ambitious novel of the twentieth century, remains a literary landmark taught around the world. Yet beyond its formal innovations, the novel carries a powerful message about prejudice, empathy, and the dangers of antisemitism.
While researching our documentary Left Bank: The Women Who Rescued James Joyce’s Ulysses, we discovered Joyce’s deep engagement with Jewish history, religion, and culture during his years in Europe. This led him to create Leopold Bloom, a Jewish protagonist who became one of the most memorable characters in modern literature.
James Joyce and the Jews explores why Joyce chose to make his modern hero Jewish, tracing the influences that shaped his thinking and examining the enduring relevance of Ulysses as a challenge to stereotyping, exclusion, and intolerance.
‘Zionism’ is among the most misunderstood terms in contemporary political and cultural discourse. That James Joyce studied Zionism and features it in Ulysses is remarkable. In JAMES JOYCE AND THE JEWS, experts will discuss Joyce's response to Zionism at the beginning of the 20th century and support for a Jewish homeland through his character Leopold Bloom.
Help bring this remarkable story of literature, identity, and cultural connection to the screen.