Skip to main content
Module Search
A street in Durham, with old buildings and people walking down the street
 

FREN1041: SOCIETY AND ITS OUTSIDERS IN MODERN FRANCE

Please ensure you check the module availability box for each module outline, as not all modules will run in each academic year. Each module description relates to the year indicated in the module availability box, and this may change from year to year, due to, for example: changing staff expertise, disciplinary developments, the requirements of external bodies and partners, and student feedback. Current modules are subject to change in light of the ongoing disruption caused by Covid-19.

Type Open
Level 1
Credits 20
Availability Available in 2024/2025
Module Cap 60
Location Durham
Department Modern Languages and Cultures (French)

Prerequisites

  • None.

Corequisites

  • French Language 1 (FREN1011).

Excluded Combinations of Modules

  • None.

Aims

  • The module seeks to introduce students to some of the main developments of twentieth-century French culture and society through a series of key texts and films.

Content

  • This module, which is taught and assessed in French, offers and introduction to some of the main developments of nineteenth- and twentieth-century French literature and culture. Through the study of a series of key literary and filmic works, the module will explore the relationship between texts and their socio-cultural context, including such issues as changing conceptions of gender and sexuality, the rise of popular culture (e.g. in the form of the roman policier), and thinking transnationally the influence of the United States on the culture of France. By the end of the module, students will have a firm grounding in modern French culture, and will be able to engage critically with a range of methodological and theoretical approaches to film and writing, including approaches to thematic analysis and aesthetic form. This module has been designed to reflect a commitment to diversity in its resources and delivery, and will create opportunities for students to engage in critical analysis of different perspectives relevant to the study area.

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:

  • Students will develop knowledge of French literature and culture.

Subject-specific Skills:

  • By the end of this module students should have improved reading skills in French and techniques of literary analysis.

Key Skills:

  • The development of general written communication skills.
  • Skills in the acquisition and interpretation of information through reading and research.
  • Ability to work independently.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

  • This module is taught by means of a weekly lecture and fortnightly seminar. The module will be taught and assessed in French. Students are required to attend all lectures and seminars and are expected to prepare themselves for classes and participate actively in discussions.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

ActivityNumberFrequencyDurationTotalMonitored
Lectures20Weekly1 Hour20Yes
Seminars10Fortnightly1 Hour10Yes
Preparation and Reading170 
Total200 

Summative Assessment

Component: CommentaryComponent Weighting: 40%
ElementLength / DurationElement WeightingResit Opportunity
Commentary (Term 1) 1000 words100Yes
Component: Summative EssayComponent Weighting: 60%
ElementLength / DurationElement WeightingResit Opportunity
Summative Essay (Term 2)1,500 words100Yes

Formative Assessment

None

More information

If you have a question about Durham's modular degree programmes, please visit our FAQ webpages, Help page or our glossary of terms. If you have a question about modular programmes that is not covered by the FAQ, or a query about the on-line Undergraduate Module Handbook, please contact us.

Prospective Students: If you have a query about a specific module or degree programme, please Ask Us.

Current Students: Please contact your department.