All work in this class is conducted in French.

The rise of the ideals of “liberty” ("liberté") and “"quality”("égalité") during the French Revolution has been widely studied. The concept of “fraternité” (fraternity) has, however, received far less attention. Yet, “fraternité”, as well as its ancestors “charité” (charity) and “amitié” (friendship), and its modern-day successors, “mutualité” (mutuality) and “solidarité” (solidarity), have become central to the French’s modern-day understanding of social-welfare, and of a well-functioning society more generally. “Fraternité” is often mobilized in this respect to counter what the French understand to be the shortcomings of individualism. In this class, we collectively attempt a genealogy of the concept of “fraternité” in France, from the 16th century to the present day.

To reflect on how the French have imagined the links between social actors and society, we weave together literary and cultural analysis, philosophy and rhetoric, the history of ideas, political theory, as well as sociological and historical approaches. Our readings include philosophers (Montaigne, Rousseau, Simone Weil), theologians (François de Sales, Vincent de Paul), sociologists (Serge Paugam on l’“attachement social”), historians of ideas (such as Marie-Claude Blais on “la solidarité”) and historians of literature (as in Antoine de Vitry’s recent literary history of “fraternité” in the 19th century). We also study two major French literary works, Victor Hugo’s Les Misérables and Émile Zola’s Germinal — and we watch enticing filmic adaptations of both. The class is organized chronologically, dwelling at length on the French Revolution and the 2nd Republic (1848), during which the question of “fraternité” took center stage. It ends with an inquiry into the role of “fraternité” when the French welfare state was erected (ca. 1930 to 1975). Careful attention is given in this respect to the program of the Conseil National de la Résistance, a document drafted by the French Resistance in 1943-1944, with the aim of outlining the institutions of post-war France.

The goal of this class is to show students how the archelogy of concepts such as “fraternité” can be reconstructed by historians of culture, and what such reconstructions can bring to our understanding of the contemporary world. It is also designed to incite students to ponder French societal models in comparison with those of their country(ies) of origin, thereby encouraging them to think critically about how social ties are imagined (and engineered) on both sides of the Atlantic — and worldwide. All readings, lectures, class discussions and coursework are conducted in French. Students majoring in History, Philosophy, Rhetoric, Sociology, Political Science, Anthropology, Geography, and Religious Studies are especially welcome in this class, provide they are proficient in French. General training on how to conduct bibliographical research in the humanities is provided, and written exercises include the writing of a final paper with an optional research component
 

Selected readings:
Michel de Montaigne, Essais (excerpts); Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Du contrat social (excerpts); Simone Weil, Étude pour une déclaration des obligations envers l'être humain; Victor Hugo, Les Misérables (excerpts); Émile Zola, Germinal (excerpts) ; François de Sales and Vincent de Paul (a variety of writings on charity), Le programme commun de la Résistance française; Serge Paugram, L’Attachement social: formes et fondements de la solidarité humaine (excerpts); Marie-Claude Blais, La Solidarité, histoire d’une idée (excerpts) ; Alexandre de Vitry, Le Droit de choisir ses frères ? Une histoire de la fraternité (excerpts).
Films:
Robert Hossein, Les Misérables (1982); Claude Berri, Germinal (1993).
 

Completion of FR102, Placement Exam, or Native Language Fluency Required for Enrollment. MUST HAVE TAKEN FRENCH 4 AT UC BERKELEY OR A FRENCH DEPARTMENT PLACEMENT TEST - For placement testing, please contact vrodic@berkeley.edu.