Topics in Modern French Literature and Culture
Close study of history and criticism of French literature, focusing on a specific group of writers, a movement, a theme, a critical or theoretical issue, or an analytic approach. May be repeated for credit with permission of instructor. Taught in French.
Fall 2023 · North America through French Eyes
The course offers an analysis of the keen interest shown by France and the French in North American cultures since the 18th century. Not only did France contribute to the construction of both Canadian and American nations, but it has also constantly delineated its identity by way of praising or criticizing North American cultures. Using materials drawn from literature, comics, TV shows, and series as well as political debates, the course will historically trace this ambivalent relation exploring various themes such as liberalism, entertainment and the media, trade and cultural goods, transatlantic intellectual encounters, and translation. The course is taught entirely in French. About the instructor: Bruno Perreau is the Cynthia L. Reed Associate Professor of French Studies at MIT. He is also an Affiliate Faculty at the Center for European Studies, Harvard. Perreau recently published *The Politics of Adoption: Gender and the Making of French Citizenship* (MIT Press, 2014), *Queer Theory: The French Response* (Stanford University Press, 2016), *Les Défis de la République* (ed. with Joan W. Scott, Presses de Sciences Po, 2017), *Qui a peur de la théorie queer ?* (Presses de Sciences Po, 2018), *Sphères d’injustice. Pour un universalisme minoritaire* (La Découverte, 2023).
Fall 2014 · Topics in Modern French Literature and Culture: Global Paris
This course investigates Paris's oversized status as a global capital by looking at the events, transformations, cultures, and arts for which the city is known to help us better understand Paris and its place in French and global cultures today. Taught in French.
Readings
- Mabanckou, Alain. Bleu-Blanc-Rouge . Presence Africaine Edition, 1998. ISBN: 9782708708136.
- Higonnet. “A City of Myths.” dans Paris: Capital of the World . Belknap Press, 2005. ISBN: 9780674017580.
- Corbin, Alain. “Paris Province.” In Les Lieux De Mémoire Vol. 3: Les Frances II Et III . Gallimard, 2007. ISBN: 9782070749041.
- Hardoy, Jorge E. “Theory and Practice of Urban Planning in Europe, 1850–1930: Its Transfer to Latin America.” Chapter 2 in Rethinking the Latin American City . Woodrow Wilson Center Press, 1993, pp. 21–49. ISBN: 9780943875439.
- Aragon, Louis. Le Paysan de Paris . Gallimard, 2004, pp. 19–49. ISBN: 9782070314638.
- Zola, Émile. La Curée . CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2015. ISBN: 9781515050100. [Lisez du paragraphe pp. 112 qui commence avec “Deux mois avant la mort d’Angèle…” jusqu’à la pp. 118, terminant avec le paragraphe qui termine “du propriétaire ou du locataire exproprié.”]
- Higonnet, Patrice. « Paris exposition : du mythe à la fantasmagorie. » Chapitre XIII dans Paris, capitale du monde . Tallandier, 2006, pp. 313–38.
- Blanchard, Pascal, and Eric Deroo. “Contrôler: Paris, capitale coloniale (1931–1939).” dans Culture coloniale en France: de la Révolution française à nos jours . Indiana University Press, 2013, pp. 355–67. ISBN: 9780253010452.
- [Jones] “Faded Dreams, Los Illusions: 1918–1945.”
- Huston, Nancy. Nord Perdu . Actes Sud, 2004, pp. 119–30. ISBN: 9782742749256.
- Hemingway, Ernest. Paris est une fête . Gallimard, 1964, pp. 9–14, 30–49, and 98–106. ISBN: 9782070231720.
- Mabanckou, Alain. Bleu, Blanc, Rouge: Roman . Presence Africaine, 1998. ISBN: 9782708706705.
- Nishi, J. P. ‘A nous deux,’ Paris! Traduit de japonais par Corinne Quentin. Picquier, 2011, pp. 1–9, 36–37, 40–43, 48–49, 60–63, 68–71, 80–83, and 90–99. ISBN: 9782809709193.
- 11 · Paris jeune 1968, événement global
- Perec, Georges. Les Choses . Julliard, 1999, pp. 66–69 and 76–79. ISBN: 9782260014713.
- Verne, Jules. Paris au XXe siècle . Corps 16, pp. 27–50. ISBN: 9782840571131. [Lisez au moins chapitres 1 & 2 (3 si vous avez le temps).]
- Robida, Albert. Le Vingtième siècle . Hachette Livre-BNF, 2012, pp.38–53, 88–98, and 198–206. ISBN: 9782012572119.
- Barthes, Roland. LaTour Eiffel . Seuil / Centre national de la photographie, 1989. ISBN: 9782020114288.
- Loyrette, Henri. “La tour Eiffel.” En Les Lieux De Mémoire Vol. 3: Les Frances II Et III . Edited by Pierre Nora. Gallimard, 2007, pp. 4270–93. ISBN: 9782070749041.
Prerequisites & course information
Prereq: One intermediate subject in French U (Spring) 3-0-9 units. HASS-H Can be repeated for credit.
Sources
- Course catalogue ↗2026–2027
- MIT OpenCourseWare ↗Fall 2023
- MIT OCW syllabus ↗
- MIT OpenCourseWare ↗Fall 2014
- MIT OCW calendar ↗
- MIT OCW syllabus ↗
- MIT OCW readings ↗
- Historical MIT OpenCourseWare offering. Named reading entries and schedule topics are automatically extracted from the linked source pages.
- Historical MIT OpenCourseWare offering. Named reading entries and schedule topics are automatically extracted from the linked source pages.