Postcolonial Paris: Contemporary French Culture in Literature and the Arts

(2.5,3 Credit Hours) · Undergraduate

The course concentrates on the ways contemporary "French" cultures are reconsidered and redefined by writers and artists from outside France. The course materials include novels by immigrants and second-generation immigrants, critical articles and book chapters by contemporary scholars and politicians, as well as films. We seek to closely "read" the city not only in textual form, but also in its current reconfigurations, as we take to the street and other public spaces to observe the present aspect of the city for ourselves. Dialogue with Parisians we meet, in addition to exchanges with invited speakers, are intended to contribute to a well-rounded experience that allows students to benefit from the opportunities for interaction that Paris affords. Taught in English.