FRN2705

Rebelling Against Conventionality: Expressions of French Individualism ( 6 points, SCA Band 1, 0.125 EFTSL)

Leader: Natalie Doyle

Offered:
Clayton Second semester 2005 (Day)

Synopsis: This unit will take as its starting point recent French films of comedy and drama. These films will open up a discussion of the way French culture defines the relationship between individuality and social life. This discussion will open up a discovery of the historical roots of contemporary French culture, notably in the 17th Century, which greatly shaped French individualism.

Objectives: Upon completion of this unit, students will have familiarised themselves with French individualism in its cultural specificity. They will have gained a knowledge of the historical circumstances that have shaped French culture, namely the influence of monarchical absolutism and court life. They will have read and analysed a number of classical texts of French philosophy and literature as well as assessed their continued relevance for an understanding of contemporary French culture and its portrayal in recent filmic production. They will have developed an understanding of the notion of cultural specificity, as well as strategies for the study of written and audio-visual documents in French. They will also have acquired language skills in oral and written expression.

Assessment: Test (in French): 20% + Individual seminar presentation (in French): 10% + Group seminar presentation (in French): 10% + Written assignments (in French): 20% + Essay (1500 words in French): 40%

Contact Hours: 3 hours (1 x 1 hour and 1 x 2 hour seminar) per week

Prerequisites: A first-year sequence in French Studies

Prohibitions: FRN3705