2016-17 Academic Catalog

Persepolis, Syngue Sabour, Le rocher de Tanios—three prize-wining texts written in French by authors whose native tongue was not French but Arabic or Farsi. In this class we will direct our attention to the close—albeit problematic—relations between France and the Middle East (broadly-considered) through an analysis of cultural and literary objects. What has this “French connection” meant for the Middle-Eastern and for French culture? Prerequisite: One French course beyond French 204 or instructor permission

This course examines the main aspects of social change in the area formerly covered by the medieval Empire of Mali, through anthropological texts, oral narratives, novels, films and both traditional and modern music. Some of the writers, film directors and musicians who will be studied are: Amadou Kourouma, Massa Makan Diabaté, Amadou Hampaté Bâ, Souleymane Cissé, Cheick O. Sissoko, Salif Keita, and others. Conducted in French. Prerequisite: French 200-level course or equivalent