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Chairs: Professors Scott D. Carpenter, winter and spring, Cherif Keïta, fall
Professors: Scott D. Carpenter, Cherif Keïta, Éva Pósfay, Dana J. Strand, Cathy M. Yandell
Visiting Assistant Professor: Stephanie M. Cox
Visiting Lecturer: Annick Fritz-Smead
Senior Lecturers: Christine Lac, Cynthia Luck Shearer
The French and Francophone Studies Department sees language as
fundamental to the study of literatures and cultures. Committed to
helping students attain proficiency in the language sequence (FREN
101-204), the Department strives at all levels to introduce students to
the rich and complex endeavors of literary and cultural analysis.
Operating study abroad programs in Mali and Paris, we provide
opportunities for using and enhancing these skills in situ,
broadening horizons while also training students in one of the world’s
major languages. Our programs in literary and cultural studies are
appropriate for students wishing to do advanced work in French or who
hope to use French language or important critical skills in future
careers or studies.
Language Courses:
Literature Courses:
We examine literary works for both their aesthetic
and human values. Our literature courses have a number of goals: to
refine and expand students' students’ linguistic ability, to broaden
their cultural understanding, to improve their ability to engage in
literary analysis, to enhance their knowledge of literary history and
criticism, and to help students better understand themselves and the
human condition. In our discussions, we address universal themes and
concerns, but we also try to uncover what is peculiarly French or
Francophone about the works.
Requirements for an Arts and Literature Track:
The Arts and Literature Track consists of
intensive work in language, and literature, and may include courses in
film or other arts. All courses in the Arts and Literature Track are
conducted in French.
Sixty-nine credits beyond French 204 including:
1. Core courses: French 309, Beyond Words: The Fine Art of Writing in French
Literary and Cultural Studies 245, Introduction to Critical Methods:
Structure, Gender, Culture, (usually taken in the junior year)
2. Fifty-four credits in departmental electives.
Students should generally begin with courses at the 200-level (French
206, 240, 241, 243, etc.), but at least thirty-six credits at the
300-level (French 309 and French 400 do not count in this category).
All courses conducted in French on the Paris and
Mali programs may be applied to this category, as long as the requisite
number of 300-level credits is attained.
3. Integrative Exercise: During their senior year
students will expand and deepen an essay in French from one of their
advanced courses in the major. Normally, but not always, the director
for this project will be the professor from that course. This essay may
be completed during any term, but must be finished early in the spring
term, when an oral presentation (in English) of the work will be
presented.
Requirements for a Cultural Studies Track:
The Cultural Studies Track is interdisciplinary in
nature: students will take courses in French and Francophone literature
and other media, but also in such fields as history, art history,
political science, etc. Courses outside the department will generally
not be taught in French.
Sixty-nine credits beyond French 204 including the
following (please note that any given course will not count in more
than one category):
1. Literature and language: At least five French
language or literature courses, four of which must be at the 300-level,
and one of which must be French 309, Beyond Words: The Fine Art of
Writing in French
2. At least one course in cultural studies: Such
as: 243, The Urban Periphery/Negotiated Cultures; 249, Paris Program:
Myth, Reality and Palimpsest; 250, Mali Program; Film and Society in
Mali; 349, Paris Program: Myth, Reality and Palimpsest
3. At least one course in history or methodology:
Such as: LCST 245, Introduction to Critical Methods: Structure, Gender
Culture, FREN 251, Mali Program: Negotiating the Past: The Challenges
of Nation-building in Mali; HIST 234, France in the Making, 987-1460;
HIST 237, The Enlightenment
4. Elective courses: Up to three additional
courses in FREN or from other departments or programs (see pre-approved
courses under the concentration in French and Francophone Studies),
with director’s approval.
5. Capstone seminar: This senior seminar (usually,
but not always, French 395) is an advanced interdisciplinary seminar
focused on a particular topic and the methodology used for its study.
6. The Integrative Exercise: During their senior year students will
expand and deepen an essay in French from one of their advanced courses
in the major. Normally, but not always, the director for this project
will be the professor from that course. This essay may be completed
during any term, but must be finished early in the spring term, when an
oral presentation (in English) of the work will be presented. Although
the initial paper may have been written in English, the essay for the
integrative exercise will be in French.
A special major in Romance Languages (a combination of French and
Spanish language and literature) is available by petition therough the
Academic Standing Committee.
Concentration: See separate section for French and Francophone Studies Concentration.
Programs Abroad: Participation in a Carleton or in another
approved foreign study program is highly recommended for students
majoring or concentrating in the above areas. The department operates
programs in Paris and in Mali, but non-Carleton programs are available,
too. Students interested in study abroad should consult the section on
international off-campus programs, and discuss alternatives with
faculty in French and with the Director of Off-Campus Studies.
Certificate of Advanced Study in Foreign Language and Literature:
In order to receive the Certificate of Advanced Study in French,
students must fulfill the general requirements (refer to Academic
Regulations) in the following course distribution: 36 credits completed
with a grade of C- or better in French beyond 103, including at least
two upper-level literature courses (300-395). Although courses for the
certificate may be taken on a S/CR/NC basis, "D" or "CR" level work
will not be sufficient to satisfy course requirements. No more than 12
credits from non-Carleton off-campus studies programs may be applied
toward the certificate.
Language House: Students have the opportunity to immerse
themselves in the language by living in the Language House. The
Associate is a native speaker, and students organize and participate in
numerous cultural activities in the Language House.
FREN 101. Elementary French This course introduces the basic structures of the French language, everyday vocabulary and cultural situations. Students practice all four skills (reading, writing, listening, and speaking) in French. Taught five days a week in French. Prerequisite: none (Placement score for students with previous experience in French). 6 cr., ND, Fall—Staff
FREN 102. Elementary French This course introduces complex sentences and various tenses through short literary and cultural texts. Students practice all four skills (reading, writing, listening, and speaking) in French. Taught five days a week in French. Prerequisite: French 101 or placement score. 6 cr., ND, Winter—Staff
FREN 103. Intermediate French This course reviews basic and complex sentence patterns in greater depth through the discussion of authentic short stories. Students practice all four skills (reading, writing, listening, and speaking) in French. Taught five days a week in French. Prerequisite: French 102 or placement score. 6 cr., ND, Fall,Spring—Staff
FREN 204. Intermediate French Through discussion of book-length literary and cultural texts (film, etc.), and including in-depth grammar review, this course aims to help students acquire greater skill and confidence in both oral and written expression. Taught three days a week in French. Prerequisite: French 103 or placement score. 6 cr., ND, Fall,Winter—Staff
FREN 206. The Media: A Multifaceted Approach By way of various French and Francophone media, this course aims to increase your knowledge of France and the Francophone world, as well as improve your oral and written expression. In addition to the reading of various newspaper and magazine articles from diverse sources (France, Canada, Morocco, etc.) you will engage with such resources as film, radio and television. 6 cr., ND, Fall,Spring—A. Fritz-Smead, C. Keïta
FREN 208. Paris Program: Conversation and Composition Focusing on topics of current interest in French society, this course is designed to help students gain ease and proficiency in spoken and written French. The course will be conducted and supervised by local instructors assisted by recent graduates of the Program in French as a Foreign Language at the University of Paris X. In addition to regular in-class activities, the graduate assistants will meet with students for weekly tutorials. 6 cr., AL, Spring—Non-Carleton Faculty
FREN 210. Coffee and News Keep up your French while learning about current issues in France, as well as world issues from a French perspective. Class meets once a week for an hour. Requirements include reading specific sections of leading French newspapers, (Le Monde, Libération, etc.) on the internet, and then meeting once a week to exchange ideas over coffee with a small group of students. Prerequisite: French 204 or permission of the instructor. 2 cr., S/CR/NC, ND, Fall,Winter,Spring—D. Strand, C. Yandell
FREN 233. The French Cinema In this overview of the major trends in French cinema, we will consider the intersections of the political, social, cultural, and artistic dimensions of films by a number of different French directors. Discussions will focus on such questions as the following: In what ways has French cinema mobilized (or undermined) national myths? What role has film played in mediating the French historical memory? How have French films dealt with the nation's (colonial) others? Course materials will incorporate critical theory and cultural readings. Taught in English with all films subtitled. 6 cr., AL, Not offered in 2007-2008.
FREN 235. Francophone Literature of Africa and the Caribbean Reading and discussion of literary works, with analysis of social, historical and political issues. Conducted in English. 6 cr., AL, RAD, Not offered in 2007-2008.
FREN 240. Introduction to French and Francophone Literatures: Sexuality and Sagacity What is the relationship between sexuality and knowledge? We will attempt to answer this question through novels, poetry and plays of such authors as Ronsard, Baudelaire, Gide, Sade, Sartre, Kundera and Nimier, as well as films of Téchiné and Kassovitz. This course serves as an introduction to the study of French and Francophone literatures and aims to develop students' skills in analysis and discussion in French. Prerequisite: French 204 or the equivalent. 6 cr., AL, Fall—C. Yandell
FREN 241. The Lyric and Other Seductions French lyric poetry occupies a privileged position in the literary landscape of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. However, it also shares a common heritage with less literary siblings, such as popular music and even advertising. Starting with the study of such poets as Lamartine, Desbordes-Valmore, Baudelaire, Mallarmé, Valéry, and Bonnefoy, we will also investigate poetic techniques in popular songs and contemporary ads. Conducted in French. Prerequisite: French 204. 6 cr., AL, Winter—S. Carpenter
FREN 243. Topics in Cultural Studies: The Urban Periphery/Negotiated Cultures The French banlieue has become a flashpoint in politics, culture, and literature. In this course, we will examine the way the banlieue is represented by others, how it attempts to represent itself, and how its mix of cultures is a source of creative (albeit sometimes problematic) representation. 6 cr., AL, Spring—S. Cox
FREN 246. Paris Program: City of Wonders: Paris in the Arts Home of some of the finest and best-known museums in the world, Paris has long been recognized as a center for artistic activity. Students will have the opportunity to study French art of the last two centuries onsite: in-class lectures and discussions will be complemented by guided visits to the unparalleled collections of the Louvre, the Musée d'Orsay, the Centre Pompidou, local art galleries, and other appropriate destinations. 6 cr., AL, Spring—Non-Carleton Faculty
FREN 249. Paris Program: Myth, Reality, and Palimpsest The French have been associated, both in stereotypes and in their own proclamations, with a certain "joie de vivre." Through literature, art, and theory, we will explore French notions of what it means to "live well," from Renaissance sumptuousness to existentialist questioning to the depiction of immigrants’ lives in contemporary Paris. We will examine the ways in which the physical environment fashions attitudes and practices that define the good life (urban and rural settings, the north and the south, housing projects and seascapes). Whenever possible, course readings and student writing will be linked with experiential learning in Paris and southern France. 6 cr., AL, Spring—C. Yandell
FREN 250. Mali Program: Film and Society in Mali This course will concentrate on the dynamics of traditional orality within the art of cinema in Mali. Feature films and documentaries by award-winning filmmakers such as Soulemane Cissé, Cheick Oumar Sissoko, Adama Drabo, Dany Kouyaté, and Abderrahmane Sissako will be screened and analyzed. Discussions with some of these filmmakers will introduce the student to the challenges and success of filmmaking in economically-challenged countries such as Mali and Burkina Faso. 6 cr., AL, Winter—C. Keïta
FREN 251. Mali Program: Negotiating the Past: The Challenges of Nation-building in Mali This course will look at various issues in Malian history (ancient and modern) and the process of political and economic change. A component of this course will be an introduction to conversational Bambara, the lingua franca of Mali. 4 cr., AL, Winter—C.Keïta
FREN 252. Mali Program: Literature and Society in Mali This course will focus on the theme of social change in different genres of Malian literature, from the colonial period to the present. By studying oral and written works by traditional and modern poets, novelists, and playwrights such as Seydou Badian and Massa Makan Diabaté, Moussa Konaté, and Amadou Hampaté Bâ, the student will get an understanding of issues such as education, marriage, and traditional vs. modern political power in contemporary Malian society. Meeting will be arranged with many writers and oral performers. 6 cr., AL, Winter—C.Keïta
FREN 309. Beyond Words: The Fine Art of Writing in French In this class we will attempt to master the art of writing essays, and exposés while wrestling with unruly subjunctives and pesky prepositions in French. We will study, translate and emulate various types of texts in order to develop a sense of style in French. We will work on projects such as subtitling of films, and translating picture books. Overall our work will focus on developing a continued appreciation for words and language. Required for the major in French. Prerequisite: at least one course above 204. 6 cr., AL, Spring—C. Lac
FREN 340. Arts of Brevity: Short Fiction The rise of newspapers and magazines in the nineteenth century promotes a variety of short genres that will remain popular to the present day: short stories, prose poetry, vignettes, theatrical scenes. In this five-week course we’ll study short works by such authors as Diderot, Sand, Balzac, Mérimée, Flaubert, Allais, Tardieu, Le Clézio. Conducted in French. Prerequisite: French 204; recommended preparation: French 206, 240, or 241. 3 cr., AL, Spring—S. Carpenter
FREN 341. Madame Bovary and Her Avatars Decried as scandalous, heralded as the first "modern" novel, Gustave Flaubert’s Madame Bovary (published in 1857) sparked debate, spawned both detractors and followers, and became a permanent fixture in French culture and even the French language. In this five-week course we will read the novel, study its cultural context and impact, and see how it has been variously re-interpreted in film and other media. Conducted in French. Prerequisite: French 204; recommended preparation: French 206, 240, or 241. 3 cr., AL, Spring—S. Carpenter
FREN 349. Paris Program: Myth, Reality, and Palimpsest The French have been associated, both in stereotypes and in their own proclamations, with a certain "joie de vivre." Through literature, art, and theory, we will explore French notions of what it means to "live well," from Renaissance sumptuousness to existentialist questioning to the depiction of immigrants’ lives in contemporary Paris. We will examine the ways in which the physical environment fashions attitudes and practices that define the good life (urban and rural settings, the north and the south, housing projects and seascapes). Whenever possible, course readings and student writing will be linked with experiential learning in Paris and southern France. 6 cr., AL, Spring—C. Yandell
FREN 351. Topics in the Sixteenth Century Literature: Metamorphoses: Love, War and Monsters in Early Modern Fr The French Renaissance continues to intrigue students and critics by its propensity for paradox, ambiguity, and contradiction. Just as literature and the arts reached new levels of aesthetic achievement, the bloodiest civil war in French history was taking shape. Simultaneously producing lyric poetry praising beautiful bodies, bawdy tales, moralizing dialogue, and chronicles of monsters, French sixteenth century culture was in a constant state of flux. Through such authors as Rabelais, Marguerite de Navarre, Ronsard, Louise Labé and Montaigne, as well as contemporaneous artistic and musical works, we will investigate the meaning of these metamorphoses. Recommended preparation: French 240-level course or the equivalent. 6 cr., AL, Not offered in 2007-2008.
FREN 352. The Court and its Dissenters Seventeenth-century France is often touted as the pinnacle of French grandeur. Under Louis XIV's absolutist rule, France supported an astounding number of normative measures--from founding academies to policing codes of behavior--designed to help the French nation to become a political, economic and cultural world power. But in the midst of all these pressures towards normativeness, could one express any dissent in the age of Versailles? To answer this question we will examine the creative (and irreverent) strategies used by a whole range of authors such as Molière, Racine, Lafayette, Fènelon, and many more. Conducted in French. Recommended preparation: French 240-level course or equivalent. 6 cr., AL, Not offered in 2007-2008.
FREN 356. Topics in Nineteenth-Century Literature: Aesthetics of the False The nineteenth century gives rise to a major literary movement that we have come to know as Realism. However, there is an undercurrent to this movement, one that capitalizes on literature's original association with falsehood. In our review of the techniques and preoccupations in the fiction and prose poetry of such authors as Balzac, Mérimée, Sand, and Baudelaire, we will focus on various notions of falsity (frauds, hoaxes, and more) especially as the false displaces the true as an aesthetic ideal. We will also look ahead to see how such concerns foreshadow various postmodern preoccupations in the twentieth century. Recommended preparation: French 240 or above. Conducted in French. 6 cr., AL, Not offered in 2007-2008.
FREN 359. Twentieth Century Literature: The Novel and Memory Marcel Proust's quest to retrieve the past set the stage for future writers who have undertaken the challenging task of probing what Bell Hooks has called "the debris of history." In this course, we will study representative novels and films dealing with memory, paying particular attention to the high stakes involved in remembering (and forgetting) at the intersection of personal story and history. Taught in French. Prerequisite: French 204 or the equivalent. 6 cr., AL, Winter—D. Strand
FREN 360. Topics in French Studies: Faces of Marginality in Francophone N. America, Quebec and Louisiana Focusing primarily on the literary and cultural traditions of Quebec, this course undertakes to examine French Canadian culture as a minority tradition--one locked in a struggle with majority influences. In this way, québecois literature shares a heritage with other minority French traditions, such as Cajun literature, and with more obviously postcolonial traditions, such as West and North African literature. Taught in French. Prerequisites: 200-level French literature course or equivalent. 6 cr., AL, Winter—S. Cox
FREN 395. Autobiographical Lenses: Self/Other/Culture While "writing the self" may first appear to be a uniquely narcissistic enterprise, autobiography also reveals much about the culture from which it emerges. Readings include such authors as Montaigne, Rousseau, Romain Gary, Hervé Guibert, Gisèle Pineau, Azouz Begag and Amélie Nothomb. Throughout the course, students will also engage in an autobiographical project of their own. Prerequisite: French 240-level course or the equivalent. 6 cr., AL, Fall—C. Yandell
FREN 400. Integrative Exercise During their senior year students will expand and deepen an essay in French from one of their advanced courses in the major. Normally, but not always, the director for this project will be the professor from that course. This essay may be completed during any term, but must be finished early in the Spring term, when an oral presentation (in English) of the work will be presented. 3 cr., S/NC, ND, Fall,Winter,Spring—S. Carpenter