Our curriculum is designed to offer rich opportunities to all students, from the elementary level to the most advanced courses. The expertise of the French group includes language pedagogy, literature, intercultural studies, critical theory, French politics and society, gender and queer studies, Modern French history, film studies, visual culture, Francophone African Studies, and cultural anthropology.
The diversity of our course offerings and the personal attention in small group classes create engaging and rewarding experiences for each student. Our classes are an excellent preparation for participation in programs such as MISTI France, Belgium and Switzerland, and January Scholars in France (a unique award for our most deserving students).
Fall 2019 Course Offerings
Tier I
21G.301 French I
21G.302 French II
21G.303 French III
21G.304 French IV
Tier II
21G.310 French Conversation
21G.312 Basic Themes in French Literature and Culture: Exploring Francophone Culture Through Comics
This course looks to broaden students’ understanding and appreciation of the world of French language comics, or bandes dessinées, from its invention in the 19th century to its current status as the 9th art. We will explore the history and phenomenon of bandes dessinées, examine the characteristics of the genre and learn how to connect the texts to the images. We will study a variety of works, themes, and graphic styles and their function in society. Themes will include humor, identity, the European and colonial contexts, history and culture.
Tier III
21G.049 French Photography
21G.346 Topics in Modern French Literature and Culture: Comtemporary Francophone Africa: Francophonie and Beyond
This course takes French-speaking Africa as its object of inquiry. Starting from a historical perspective to understand how there came to be a Francophone Africa, it then turns to how that historical legacy plays out in the contemporary era, with an emphasis on the politics of language. We consider the role and the place of the French language in the colonial project and decolonization movements. And delving into the distinctions between francophonie as the use of the French language, and Francophonie as a political project, we interrogate the place of French in the contemporary African landscape. In addition, we use novels and films as points of entry into the discussion of important topics in contemporary African societies. Students learn to leverage theoretical tools from anthropology and social theory to analyze and interpret these topics. In past semesters, topics have included migration, the relationship to the state, creative production, the city, and futurity
21G.348 Global Paris
Looking ahead:
IAP 2020
21G.301 French I
Spring 2020
Tier I
21G.301 French I
21G.302 French II
21G.303 French III
21G.304 French IV
Tier II
21G.308 Writing (like the) French
21G.312 Basic Themes in French Literature and Culture
21G.315 Cross-cultural Perspectives on Contemporary French Society
Tier III
21G.341 Contemporary French Film and Social Issues
21G.346 Topics in Modern French Literature and Cultures:
A note regarding the enrollment policy of the Global Studies and Languages section: Enrollment limited to 18 for pedagogical reasons. Preference will be given to pre-registered students, including pre-registered undergraduates who were cut from the same class the previous semester due to the enrollment cap. Please note that you have to attend the first day of class to maintain your preference level. In case of over-enrollment, preference will be given in the following order: declared majors, declared minors, declared concentrators, first-years, sophomores, juniors, seniors and graduate students.
