The course will examine French attitudes to the Pacific, and in particular to Tahiti, as they have been expressed in philosophy and imaginative literature. Through a study of categories such as the exotic, knowledge, innocence, the savage, both noble and ignoble, civilisation and nature, the course will attempt to understand one of Europe's major encounters with itself through its encounter with another culture.

• Explain in French the concept of cultural relativism (Assessment 1, 2 and 3)
• Demonstrate in French an understanding of the concept of the bon sauvage (Assessment 1, 2 and 3)
• Develop a capacity to discuss in French Enlightenment ideas on l’homme naturel (Assessment 1, 2 and 3)
• Explain in French aspects of 19^th century exoticism as it relates to Tahiti(Assessment 1, 2 and3)
• Develop a capacity to present an argument in French about aspects of contemporary writing in French Polynesia (Assessments 1, 2 and3)

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

33 hours of lectures and seminars

Intermediate French 2 FREN3007 or equivalent.