French/Francophone Literature and Film
The language of instruction of all French/Francophone literature and film courses is English. No French is required if you enroll in the course at the 200 level. French 301 is the prerequisite for registering at the 400 level. Students enrolling at the 400 level will complete some readings and assignments in French. All of these courses count for the Global Education and Interpreting Texts core General Education elements.
French 203/403: Collect, Gather Glean: Practices of Memory and Identity in Modern France – GE, IT
This course is an introduction to French society from World War II to the present day with a focus on those who have been made invisible through the random violence of war or the everyday violence of extreme poverty. We observe how forgotten people collect, gather, and glean in response to trauma or as a means of subsistence. At the same time, we consider how writers and film-makers collect, gather, and glean to piece together the stories of those who have been forgotten. Work for the course includes individual essays, creative group projects, and community engagement through a visit to a food bank.
French 204/404: Quoi de neuf? New Trends in Francophone Popular Culture – GE, IT
This course explores the emerging trends and contemporary manifestations of popular culture in Francophone Africa and the diasporas. Through an interdisciplinary approach, students will critically examine various forms of popular culture, including literature and film. Special attention will be given to recent developments and cultural shifts within the Francophone context. The course aims to deepen students’ understanding of the dynamic nature of popular culture and its significance in shaping identities, communities, and global perspectives. It is an elective for the Global Studies major (Development and Social Justice concentration) and can count for the major in Gender, Sexuality, & Race Studies and the minor in Critical Race Studies.
French 205/405: French Cinema on the Edge – GE, IT
This course charts the emergence of French cinema from its invention as a byproduct of the Industrial Revolution to its confident affirmation as the most modern of art forms with the mid-century New Wave. Throughout, we consider film in relation to social movements, world wars, and political and economic developments, including how film served colonial ideologies as well as anti-colonial revolt. You will develop vocabulary and skills for critically analyzing one of the most impactful art forms. French 205/405 can count for the Communication major (Film & Media Studies concentration).
French 206/406: French Feminism from Christine de Pizan to Simone de Beauvoir – GE, IT
This course provides you with an archive of resources from which you can build your own feminist house: manuscripts, printed books, engravings, posters, and the popular press from the late Middle Ages to contemporary France. We will examine three kinds of feminism: fortress feminism, equality feminism, and manifesto feminism. Course assignments foster collaboration and individual inquiry; they are analytical, reflective, and creative. French 206/406 can count for the major in Gender, Sexuality, & Race Studies and the minor in Gender & Sexuality Studies.