Course Catalog

Home>Academic Catalog 2026-2027>

(DE)COLONIAL NARRATIVES IN FRENCH (FR3052)

Embark on a journey through the French-speaking world, exploring diverse literary and cultural expressions from Africa, the Indian Ocean, the Caribbean, and Europe. This course surveys multigeneric colonial and postcolonial narratives, spanning continents and mediums-poems, novels, graphic novels, and films-dating from 1661 to today. We analyze how authors and directors (de)construct(neo-)colonial archives, ideologies, and stereotypes. Prerequisite: FR2100.

POLITICS IN FRANCE (FR3053)

Studies France's development from a provincial peasant society, hampered by weak governments and enduring colonial wars, to a technologically sophisticated industrial democracy and a major international power. Studies France's cultural, social, and economic contexts, evolving party system, and institutions and policy-making processes to better understand this phenomenal change and its consequences for France's role in the world. The ability to read in French will facilitate research, but is not required.

ROMANTIC LIT AND ITS DISCONTENTS: FLAUBERT, SAND, BAUDELAIRE (FR3059)

Studies in the literary works, poetic aspirations and legal trials of Flaubert, Sand, and Baudelaire, while tracing their tremendous influence on the 19th-century French literature and their contribution to the emergence of modernity. Readings include Indiana, Madame Bovary, Trois contes, Bouvard et Pecuchet, and Baudelaire's Les Fleurs du Mal among other works, as well as a range of critical and philosophical commentaries.

CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND COMMUNITY SERVICE IN FRANCE (FR3083)

This course offers global explorers with a strong desire to engage in local Parisian communitites, not only to deepen their understanding of French society's make-up and current social issues, but also to experience suring (at least) one semester what volunteer work in a Parisian advocacy or charity organization feels like.

FRENCH CINEMA: LA NOUVELLE VAGUE (FR3086)

Shows the evolution of modern French culture in its relationship to cinema. Examines the early influence of literature and theater on cinema and its subsequent detachment, to be recognized as an art in itself with its own particular form. Emphasizes the viewing and discussing of one film each week: two class meetings plus one film per week. One or two off campus visits organized per semester.Taught in French.

PARIS CINEMA (FR3087)

Studies the numerous facets, whether real or imaginary, of the close relationship between Paris and cinema. Analyzes films made by famous directors such as Clair, Carne, Godard, Malle, Rohmer, Polanski, Collard, Kassovitz, and others. Taught in French, essays and exams can be written /
taken in English.

TOPICS IN FRENCH (FR3091)

Topics vary by semester

INTERNSHIP (FR3098)

Internships may be taken for 1 or 4 credits. Students may do more than one internship, but internship credit cannot cumulatively total more than 4 credits.

LITERARY TRANSLATION AND CREATIVE WRITING (FR3400)

This workshop offers an introduction to literary and cultural translation between French and English. Students encounter, through practical exercises, key differences between French and English linguistic and cultural forms, and find ways to resolve and explore these differences in their literary translation and in their creative writing. Practice in translation is supplemented by reflection on translation.