FREN2061: THE FRANCOPHONE IMAGINARY: LEGACIES OF COLONIALISM IN LITERATURE AND CULTURE

• French Language 1 (FREN1011), French Language 1B (FREN1012) OR an equivalent qualification to the satisfaction of the Chairman/Chairwoman of the Board of Studies in MLAC or his/her representative.

• Modern Languages, Combined Honours and all Joint and 'with' programmes: French Language 2 (FREN2051) OR French Language 2B (FREN2111). Others: see Chairman/Chairwoman of the Board of Studies in MLAC or his/her representative.

• None.

• To consider the legacies of colonialism across a range of non-metropolitan French texts.
• To reflect upon the meaning and construction of the 'francophone imaginary' within the contexts of postcolonialism and globalisation.

• Students will be introduced to a range of works from different parts of the francophone world. In any given year, this may include texts from North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, the Caribbean, the Indian Ocean, Canada and the Middle East, and may cover genres such as the novel, autobiography, poetry, theatre, film, phototext or bande dessine.
• These works will be set in context by discussion of the history and theory of French colonialism, francophonie and globalisation, drawing on the work of theorists of (post) colonialism such as Sartre, Fanon and Glissant.
• The principle themes pursued across the works studies include identity, otherness, place and language; there will also be opportunities to consider the interrelation of these themes with questions of gender, sexuality, community and politics.
• This module is taught and examined in English.

Subject-specific Knowledge:

• Students will acquire an awareness of the breadth and diversity of francophone culture, building on and broadening their knowledge of 'standard' French language acquired at Level 1.
• Critical knowledge of a range of francophone works.
• Historical, contextual and cultural understanding of the legacies of colonialism underpinned by a sound knowledge of the theories of francophonie, colonialism, postcolonialism and globalisation.
• Nuanced understanding of a number of key thematic issues, principally those concerning questions of identity, otherness, place and language.
• Understanding of how literary/cultural texts - through experiment with gernre and style - may illuminate and shape the political contexts of (post) colonialism.

Subject-specific Skills:

• By the end of this module students should have improved critical skills in reading and analysing literature and film.
• The ability to read literature and film in dialogue with theory and historical context.
• The ability to draw links between works from differing cultural contexts.

Key Skills:

• By the end of this module students should have improved ability to read complex and multivalent texts with intellectual nuance.
• The ability to seek out and identify appropriate sources of evidence and information.
• The ability to discuss political and thematic issues with fluency.
• The ability to structure critical analysis cogently in essays and commentaries, developing general written communication skills.

• Teaching will consist of 20 lectures and 10 seminars, spread across 2 terms.
• The combination of general lectures and seminars will provide essential historical and theoretical contexts, and intensive study of representative works.
• Students will complete two summative assessments (1 commentary and 1 essay) and an end-of-year examination.

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