French Writing and Social Concern
Readings:
see Description.
Course Description:
Traditionally, the writer is a figure of cultural authority – even wisdom — in France. Although some have followed a path of ” Art for Art’s Sake”, many French writers have used their voice to address issues of social concern. In this course we will study 19th and 20th century texts of various genres —poetry, theatre, prose fiction and the essay — that bring home to their readers a sense of urgency in relation to questions of social change, war, colonialism, anti-semitism, and social responsibility. We will examine how writing can make us think and feel beyond ourselves and our own immediate concerns. We will investigate questions such as the following: how does a writer convincingly express anger or social dissent? Is realism the only way to convey social concern? How does form affect meaning and the force of its communication? How can ambiguity become powerful and even makes us responsible ? What kind of literary devices does the writer of essays use to convince the reader of his or her point of view?
Readings will be in English and will include works by writers such as Victor Hugo, Charles Baudelaire, Emile Zola, Henri Babusse, Jean-Paul Sartre, Albert Camus, Franz Fanon, Aimé Césaire, Georges Perec and Patrick Modiano.
Prerequisites:
No language prerequisites. Course open to all students.
Additional Information:
No knowledge of French is required. All lectures and discussions in English. This course can satisfy 1 “Outside Elective” course requirement in the French major, with prior approval of French Undergraduate Major Adviser.
Satisfies College of Letters and Science breadth in Arts and Literature.