Topics

The details for the course, Selected Topics in French Studies (FREN2021), apply to all of the following topics. Specific descriptions for Syllabus and Proposed Assessment that apply to each topic are detailed below.

Contemporary Fiction in French

Syllabus

Offered in:  Second Semester 2010

Coordinator: Dr Louise Maurer

Course Description: This course examines a selection of novels and short stories published in French over the last 20 years in order to analyse their stylistic diversity as well as the relationship between their modes of expression and their social, cultural and historical contexts. Writers include Jean Marie Le Clézio, Marie Ndiaye, Sylvie Germain and  Assia Djebar.

Topics to be explored are the fascination for lost and imagined cultures in relation to Contemporary Europe (the debates around the manifesto “pour une littérature –monde” in context),  imaginative insights into the realities of contemporary France, the inscription and memories of wars in contemporary fiction and the problematic of identification represented in post-migrant fiction.

Learning Outcomes: 

At the successful completion of this course, you will be able to:

• critically analyze the texts, especially in terms of their aesthetic, linguistic, historical, and societal components.
• compare and contextualize viewpoints in French.
• critically apply primary and secondary source research to an analysis of texts
• write and argue cohesively using primary and secondary sources
• demonstrate advanced scholarly writing skills

Requisite Statement: FREN3007 or FREN3008 

Indicative Assessment

Essay up to 2000 words (40%), a class presentation (30%), an hour exam (30%).

French Culture on Film: the national & the global

Syllabus

Offered in:  Not offered in 2010

Coordinator: Dr Louise Maurer

Course Description: This course will focus on representations of region, city and community in a range of French cinematic and literary works, and how these various forms of local or national representation relate to broader, global concerns. Attention will be given to the historical context (national and international) against which these works were produced and received, including the question of genre.

Learning Outcomes: In focusing on mainstream French cinema and its ongoing dialogue with international modes of representation, as well as on a variety of texts ranging from the literary to the critical, the objective of this course is for students to acquire a greater understanding of French cultural, social and historical context.  It aims to enhance students' language skills and capacity to contribute to discussion through a critical appreciation of the articulation of space and communities in the films and texts under consideration.

Requisite Statement: Intermediate French 2 FREN3007 or permission of the convenor.

Indicative Assessment

Essay up to 2000 words (35%), a class presentation (25%), a two hour exam including viewing time (40%).

 

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French Songs as social & Political Discourse

Syllabus

Offered in: First Semester 2010

Coordinator: Dr Chantal Crozet

Course description: This course will invite students to reflect critically on French history, society and culture through the analysis of the discourse of songs from the time of the troubadors; cabarets; café-concerts; music-hall; rock; to the hip-hop, rap and slam movements of more recent times. The medium of instruction and learning will be French.

Learning Outcomes: By the end of the course, students should:

• have an improved knowledge of some key aspects of French history, society and culture
• have developed an ability to critically analyze songs as a form of discourse
• have developed their written and spoken expression in French

Requisite Statement: Intermediate French 2 FREN3007 or permission of the convenor

Indicative Assessment

 Oral presentation (30%), a 2000 word essay (45%) and end of semester in-class test (25%).

 

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French society and culture

Syllabus

Offered in: Not offered in 2010

Convener: Dr Chantal Crozet

Course Description: This course will examine aspects of contemporary French society and culture.

Learning Outcomes: This course aims to further develop students' written and oral expression in French whilst improving their understanding of French current social, cultural and political issues.  Students will improve in particular their ability to understand audio and audio-visual documents selected from French weekly news, using different websites, as well as a variety of other documents from different sources. They will also develop their ability to discuss critically, in French, current affairs. 

Requisite Statement: Intermediate French 1 FREN3006 or permission of the convenor. Students who have already completed Intermediate French 2 (FREN 3007) should select another Later Year course.

Indicative Assessment

Oral presentation (25%), 2,000 word essay (50%) and other work (25%).

 

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New Caledonia Fieldwork and Research

There are no syllabus or indicative asesssment details for this topic.

Social movements in French history

Syllabus

Offered in: Not offered in 2010

Coordinator: Dr Chantal Crozet

Course Description: This course reflects on social movements which have shaped French society in the past and continue to be of importance in present times. Focus is given to three particular themes: women and the French feminist movement, tensions between religion(s) and political power and the migrant presence in France. A broad range of readings, documentaries, film extracts & songs are used as teaching and learning materials.

Learning Outcomes: The aims of this course is to gain socio-historical competences through the study of French history from both a chronological and critical thematic perspective. Students will be able to critically examine and evaluate the importance of particular social movements in French history linked to the evolving role and status of women, religion(s) and migrants across time.

Requisite Statement: Intermediate French 2 FREN3007 or permission of the convenor.

Indicative Assessment

Oral presentation (25%), 2,000 word essay (50%) and other work (25%).

The information published on the Study at ANU 2010 website applies to the 2010 academic year only. All information provided on this website replaces the information contained in the Study at ANU 2009 website.