FREN 101: Elementary French

This course introduces the basic structures of the French language and everyday vocabulary in the context of common cultural situations. Students are exposed to all four skills (reading, writing, listening and speaking). Taught five days a week in French. Prerequisites: none (Placement score for students with previous experience in French). 6 credit; Does not fulfill a distribution requirement, Does not fulfill a curricular exploration requirement; offered Fall 2012 -- Staff

FREN 102: Elementary French

Building on the material covered in French 101, this course introduces complex sentences and additional verb tenses. Students apply the tools of narration in context through the reading of short literary and cultural texts. The focus of the course is on all four skills (reading, writing, listening and speaking). Taught five days a week in French. Prerequisites: French 101 or placement score. 6 credit; Does not fulfill a distribution requirement, Does not fulfill a curricular exploration requirement; offered Winter 2013 -- Staff

FREN 103: Intermediate French

This course continues the study of complex sentence patterns and reviews basic patterns in greater depth, partly through the discussion of authentic short stories and cultural topics. Throughout the course, students practice all four skills (reading, writing, listening and speaking). Taught five days a week in French. Prerequisites: French 102 or placement score. 6 credit; Does not fulfill a distribution requirement, Does not fulfill a curricular exploration requirement; offered Fall 2012, Spring 2013 -- 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 credit; Does not fulfill a distribution requirement, Does not fulfill a curricular exploration requirement; offered Fall 2012, Winter 2013 -- Staff

FREN 206: Contemporary Francophone Culture

This course focuses on developing students’ skills in French conversation and composition through the discussion of contemporary Francophone culture: current political and social issues, film, and music. Prerequisite: French 204 or the equivalent. 6 credit; Does not fulfill a distribution requirement, International Studies, Does not fulfill a curricular exploration requirement; offered Winter 2013 -- C. Keïta

FREN 208: Paris Program: Cultural Themes

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. While providing some focused work on language skills, emphasis will be placed on cultural issues, often drawing on current events. Work will include regular writing, discussion, and short presentations. Prerequisites: French 204 or equivalent 6 credit; Arts and Literature, Humanistic Inquiry, International Studies; offered Spring 2013 -- S. Carpenter

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 credit; S/CR/NC; Does not fulfill a distribution requirement, Humanistic Inquiry; offered Fall 2012, Winter 2013, Spring 2013 -- C. Keïta

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 credit; Arts and Literature, Recognition and Affirmation of Difference Requirement, Literary/Artistic Analysis, International Studies; not offered 2012-2013

FREN 240: The Seven Deadly Sins

The Seven Deadly Sins (the source of all vices) captured the medieval western imagination and continue to inspire diverse writers, artists and filmmakers to the present day. From La Fontaine’s fables to the African tales of Amadou Koumba, from Maupassant’s Carmen (and Bizet’s eponymous opera) to Camus’s The Stranger, this course will explore literary and filmic representations of such vices as pride, envy and lust. It will also interrogate the presence and power of these categories in contemporary culture. An introduction to the study of French and Francophone literatures, the course develops students’ skills in analysis and discussion in French. Prerequisites: French 204 or the equivalent 6 credit; Arts and Literature, Literary/Artistic Analysis, International Studies; offered Fall 2012 -- C. Yandell

FREN 241: Journeys of Self-Discovery

What initiates the process of self-discovery? How does one's environment nurture or hinder this journey? What are the repercussions of being introspective? How do new discoveries about the self inform life choices? Such questions will animate this survey course, which proposes to examine a variety of paths towards self-knowledge through the prism of French and Francophone literature, music, and the visual arts. From ravishing fairy tale fugitives and intrepid travelers to lucid prisoners and uprooted exiles, we will explore the richly diverse literary landscape of the French-speaking world with special attention given to developing analytical and communicative skills. Conducted in French. Prerequisites: French 204 or equivalent 6 credit; Arts and Literature, Recognition and Affirmation of Difference Requirement, Literary/Artistic Analysis, International Studies; offered Spring 2013 -- É. Pósfay

FREN 243: Topics in Cultural Studies: Cultural Reading of Food

"Tell me what you eat, I will tell you who you are." Brillat-Savarin. Through the thematic lens of food, we will study enduring and variable characteristics of French society and compare it to American and other societies when appropriate. We will analyze various cultural texts and artifacts (fiction, non-fiction, print, film, and objects) from medieval times to the present with a pinch of theory and a dash of statistics. Course may be repeated if the topic is different. Prerequisites: French 204 or equivalent 6 credit; Arts and Literature, Writing Requirement, Humanistic Inquiry, Writing Requirement, Quantitative Reasoning Encounter, International Studies; offered Winter 2013 -- C. Lac

FREN 245: Francophone Literature of Africa and the Caribbean

Reading and discussion of literary works, with analysis of social, historical and political issues. Prerequisite: French 204 or equivalent 6 credit; Arts and Literature, Recognition and Affirmation of Difference Requirement, Literary/Artistic Analysis; not offered 2012-2013

FREN 246: Paris Program: Modern French Art

Home of some of the finest and best known museums in the world, Paris has long been recognized as a center for artistic activity. In this course students will have the opportunity to study such movements as Impressionism, Expressionism, and Surrealism on site. 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. Special attention will be paid to the program theme. No previous Art History required. Prerequisites: French 204 6 credit; Arts and Literature, Literary/Artistic Analysis, International Studies; offered Spring 2013 -- S. Carpenter

FREN 247: Paris Program: France and the European Union

Originally an economic alliance, the European Union has developed structures and institutions far surpassing the goals of the original project. This course will examine the tensions between the nation-state and the Union, giving special attention to the entanglement of immigration, religion, and governance. This course will draw on the counterpoint example of Spain. Classes are supplemented by visits to relevant sites and by lectures by local experts. No previous political science coursework required. 6 credit; Arts and Literature, Social Inquiry, International Studies; offered Spring 2013 -- S. Carpenter

FREN 249: Paris Program: European Identities: Paris and Madrid

Paris is a world capital, a crossroads of cultures, races, classes, and languages. This vibrancy is related to France’s central role in the European Union, the evolution of which has produced tremendous changes within its member nations. The transformation of Europe has strained national and regional identities, and this strain can be "read" in various forms of expression, including literature, art, monuments, and public events. Studying the particular cases of Paris and Madrid--a "field trip" to Madrid is planned--students will examine the ways in which France is (re)defining itself within the context of an evolving Europe. Prerequisites: French 204 or equivalent 6 credit; Arts and Literature, Literary/Artistic Analysis, International Studies; offered Spring 2013 -- S. Carpenter

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 credit; Arts and Literature, Recognition and Affirmation of Difference Requirement, Literary/Artistic Analysis, International Studies; not offered 2012-2013

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 credit; Arts and Literature, Recognition and Affirmation of Difference Requirement, Humanistic Inquiry, International Studies; not offered 2012-2013

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 credit; Arts and Literature, Recognition and Affirmation of Difference Requirement, Literary/Artistic Analysis, International Studies; not offered 2012-2013

FREN 308: France and the African Imagination

This course will look at the presence of France and its capital Paris in the imaginary landscape of a number of prominent African writers, filmmakers and musicians such as Bernard Dadié ( Côte d’ Ivorie), Ousmane Sembène (Senegal), Calixthe Béyala (Cameroun), Alain Mabanckou (Congo-Brazzaville), Salif Keïta (Mali) and others. The history of Franco-African relations will be used as a background for our analysis of these works. Conducted in French. 6 credit; Arts and Literature, Literary/Artistic Analysis, International Studies; offered Spring 2013 -- C. Keïta

FREN 309: Beyond Words: The Fine Art of Writing in French

In this course we analyze and use the many linguistic and rhetorical devices the French language offers us. To do so, we study, translate and emulate various types of texts and develop our sense of style in French. In order to contextualize language use, we work on functional projects, which may include subtitling of films, translating picture books, composing an academic paper, or creating a website. Overall, we will focus on developing a continued appreciation for words and language. Required for the major in French. Prerequisite: at least one course above French 204. 6 credit; Arts and Literature, Literary/Artistic Analysis, International Studies; offered Spring 2013 -- É. Pósfay

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 short course (first five weeks of the term) 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 credit; Arts and Literature, Literary/Artistic Analysis, International Studies; offered Winter 2013 -- 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 credit; Arts and Literature, Literary/Artistic Analysis, International Studies; offered Winter 2013 -- S. Carpenter

FREN 351: Love, War and Monsters in Early Modern France

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. Lyric poetry, bawdy tales, essays and chronicles depict beautiful bodies and monsters, war and peace, hatred and love. Through such authors as Rabelais, Marguerite de Navarre, Ronsard, Louise Labé and Montaigne, as well as artistic and musical works, we will investigate the multiple worlds of French renaissance culture. Recommended preparation: French 240-level course or the equivalent. 6 credit; Arts and Literature, Literary/Artistic Analysis, International Studies; not offered 2012-2013

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, Fénelon, and many more. Conducted in French. Recommended preparation: French 240-level course or equivalent. 6 credit; Arts and Literature, Literary/Artistic Analysis, International Studies; not offered 2012-2013

FREN 354: Other Worlds

What do Persians, Peruvians, Tartars, Tahitians and Eldoradans have in common? For one thing, they’re all present in eighteenth-century France’s heavily fantasized view of the world beyond its borders. By looking at texts and events of the long eighteenth century, including travel literature, voyages of discovery, and the Encyclopédie, we will examine the way the French used the outside world as a screen upon which to project its own imaginings. Authors may include Mme de Graffigny, Montesquieu, Bougainville, Diderot, Voltaire, Sade, Mme de Staël and Voltaire, among others. Conducted in French. Prerequisites: Prerequisite: French 204, recommended preparation: French 206, 240, or 241. 6 credit; Arts and Literature, Literary/Artistic Analysis, International Studies; not offered 2012-2013

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. Prerequisites: 200-level French course or permission of instructor 6 credit; Arts and Literature, Literary/Artistic Analysis, International Studies; offered Fall 2012 -- D. Strand

FREN 360: Topics in French Studies: Algeria-France

For the historian Benjamin Stora, the close and complex bond between France and Algeria can be compared to a forced marriage, doomed to a violent divorce the repercussions of which are still being felt on either side of the Mediterranean. In this interdisciplinary course we will explore the extended relationship between Algeria and France through a variety of literary and historical texts (as well as several relevant films). Taught in French. Prerequisites: 200-level French course or permission of instructor. 6 credit; Arts and Literature, Literary/Artistic Analysis, International Studies; not offered 2012-2013

FREN 361: Identity in Progress in Quebec

In this course, we will examine the québécois quest for identity through novels, plays, films and folktales from the twentieth century. With the objective to understand Quebec’s contemporary culture, we will try to answer the following questions: How can bilingualism divide a country? Why did French-Canadians feel like second-class citizens in the 1950s? What happened to the indigenous populations in the debate of cultural distinctiveness? Why did Quebec’s women’s movement fare better than in France? Finally, we will discuss the impact of immigrant writings on the issue of identity. Conducted in French. 6 credit; Arts and Literature, Literary/Artistic Analysis, International Studies; not offered 2012-2013

FREN 362: Transnational Writers in Quebec

In this course, we will examine those often viewed as the "outsiders" of Quebec literature: the immigrant writers, the Anglophone writers of Montreal and the First Nation writers. Because of Quebec’s unique place and history within North America, its literary production reflects a culture whose sense of self is defined and shifts according to the gaze of several Others, the Anglo-Canadian, the American or the French. Therefore, Quebec’s literature offers a natural hearth for transnational and transcultural authors. Readings will include authors who live or publish in Quebec but who are born outside of Canada. Conducted in French. 6 credit; Arts and Literature, Literary/Artistic Analysis, International Studies; not offered 2012-2013

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 credit; S/NC; Does not fulfill a distribution requirement; offered Fall 2012, Winter 2013, Spring 2013 -- É. Pósfay