FREN 461 / 861 Cultural Productions of the French-Speaking World (2.00-3.15 T Th)

461 / 861 Cultural Productions of the French-Speaking World (2.00-3.15 T Th)

Prereq : six hours at the 300 level, including 301 and/or 302, or permission.

This course examines various forms of cultural production from the French-speaking islands, including literature, cinema, popular media, art, music, and dance. We will explore the islands of Mauritius, Réunion, and Mayotte in the Indian Ocean, the archipelagos of New Caledonia and French (occupied) Polynesia in the Pacific Ocean, and the islands of Haiti, Martinique, and Guadeloupe in the Caribbean. Students will study the history of these regions, the relationship between these former colonies with metropolitan France, and topics ranging from politics and immigration to environmental ethics, social justice, and contemporary women’s and gender issues. Taught by Julia Frengs.