French and Francophone Studies in Paris

Eligibility

Students who will have sophomore, junior, or senior status in the 2013-14 academic year are encouraged to apply. Prerequisite: French 204 or above by spring term 2014. The director reserves the right to require additional study in French before departure.

Course of Study: 18 Credits

Students enroll in three of the four courses for a total of 18 credits. (All students enroll in French 249 or 349.) All courses count toward the Cultural Studies track of the French major, the Certificate of Advanced Study in French, and the French & Francophone Studies concentration; 208 and 249/349 also count toward the literature track of the French & Francophone Studies major; 246 and 249 (or 349) count toward the Concentration in French and Francophone Studies. French 246 counts toward the Art History major (post-1800 requirement). French 248 counts toward the CAMS major.

FREN 249/349: Identity Crossings: France-Morocco (6 Credits)

What does it mean to be French?  How do collective memory and forgetting influence national and personal identity? What role does France’s colonial legacy play in determining the definition(s) of that identity? How are the French viewed by their (former) colonial Others (with special emphasis on the Moroccan example)? How has the ‘French connection’ influenced the way in which the Arab Spring played out in Morocco? Through literary and cultural materials offering a lively exchange of perspectives, informed by hands-on experience in both Morocco and France, students will explore these and other questions related to this richly complex topic.
Distribution credit: Literary/Artistic Analysis; International Studies.
Instructor: Professor Strand

FREN 208: Cultural Themes (6 Credits)

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.
Distribution credit: Literary/Artistic Analysis; International Studies.
Instructor: French faculty

FREN 246: Modern French Art (6 Credits)

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. No previous Art History required.
Distribution credit: Literary/Artistic Analysis; International Studies.
Instructor: French faculty

FREN 248: Representations of Islam in France (6 Credits)

In this course, students will explore the historical, cultural, social, and religious traces of Islam as they have been woven over time into the modern fabric of French society. Through images drawn from film, photography, television, and museum displays, they will discover the important role this cultural contact zone has played in the French experience. The course will take advantage of the resources of the city of Paris and will include excursions to museums as well as cultural and religious centers.
Distribution credit: Literary/Artistic Analysis; International Studies. Credit for CAMS major.
Instructor: French faculty

Learning Goals

• To achieve greater proficiency in spoken and written French
• To develop an increased cultural understanding of both France and Morocco
• To develop an enhanced appreciation of the lingering consequences of the French colonial legacy