French Out of France: Introduction to Francophone Literatures

3 units

An introduction to some of the other literatures in French: the literary traditions and cultural contexts of Francophone countries in North and sub-Saharan Africa and the Caribbean. Vibrant and productive cultures around the world have interacted with the French language and its literature to produce highly diverse texts of their own. We study some of them, focusing on issues like cultural adaptation, colonialism, and civilizing missions, and the responses to them. We also consider the varying meanings of the term Francophone, from conservative to liberal, and think about its implications for the study of French literature as a whole. Finally, we examine the ways in which contemporary mainland France has been irrevocably transformed by the Francophone presence. Works by Kourouma, Césaire, Kateb, and Lopes. Prereq: Fr 307D.