Topics in French & Francophone Studies
Course Number: 82-415/416
FALL 2026: This course will explore the representations of the Parisian cityscape in literature and popular culture.
How do French and foreign authors and filmmakers choose to represent the City of Light? Which aspects of Parisian life do their voices focus on, and why? How do these representations influence French and global perceptions of the city?
Drawing from the study of myths by Roland Barthes, as well as images in poetry, novels, films and popular culture, we will look at the "production" of Paris. We will contrast mainstream images of the city (a place for lovers and baguettes, the Louvre, Notre Dame) with a lesser-known side of the city, from its catacombs to its ethnic neighborhoods. We will also examine the relations between Americans and Paris, from the works of writers such as Ernest Hemingway to the current perceptions of the city conveyed by/in American popular culture. The course will also examine the representations of Paris in films and in visual arts. Good reading skills in French and a good ability to express oneself both orally and in writing are essential. In line with the spirit of these explorations, you are encouraged to use a variety of media for your presentation.
This repeatable course explores target cultures through a thematic or conceptual focus. Students critically analyze authentic documents through, for example, historical, biographical, filmic, artistic, literary, musical, and theoretical perspectives, while improving and expanding their language skills.
Degree: Undergraduate
Concentration: Global French Studies
Semester(s): Fall, Spring
Units: 9
Prerequisite(s): 82-303 and 82-304