Courses of Instruction
FRENCH (FRE-Arts and Science; Department of French and Italian)
Note: Students who intend to continue studying the same foreign language as
in high school are required to take the placement exam for that language before
enrolling. See Placement Guides in the Academic Planning chapter. Once placed,
a student may not skip a course in the sequence leading to FRE 202.
101/102 Introduction to the French Language and Culture (4, 4)
Emphasis on multiple
skill acquisition, speaking, and writing, and how cultural difference affects
experience of the world. Prerequisite: see Placement Guides in the Academic Planning
chapter.
107L Practical French (4)
Develops basic language skills to function in
a French language environment. Aimed at MUDEC students who do not intend to continue
French or who have already completed their university language requirement. Students
who intend to continue French must take placement test to determine level of next
class.
MPF 131 Masterpieces of French Culture in Translation (3)
Accessible introduction
to French culture through the study of selected examples of significant works
in literature and the arts (understood in a broad sense). Works are examined in
their social, historical, and ideological contexts and cover the period from the
Middle Ages to the mid-20th century. All readings in English translation. IIB,
H. CAS-B-LIT.
Advanced Courses
201 Intermediate French (3)
Integrates intermediate-level language-skill development
and study of cultural difference. Provides student to student interaction and
addresses a broad range of cultural issues.
MPF 202 Critical Analysis of French Culture (3)
Second-semester, intermediate
French course addresses literary and cultural issues through the study of short
stories, poetry, film, journalism, and advertising. Works represent several French-speaking
countries. Because texts, discussion, and compositions are in French, students
continue to develop speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills. IIIB. CAS-A.
212 Secular Jewish Culture From the Enlightenment to Zionism (3)
Surveys key
aspects of secular Jewish culture, identity, thought, society & politics from
mid 17th to mid 20th century. Significant treatment of Jewish life in Western
Europe (France & Germany) and Eastern Europe; shorter treatment of Jewish
experience in US & Mandate Palestine. Readings in English. Cross-listed with
GER/ RUS 212 and HST 211. CAS-B-Other Humanities.
265 European Jewish Cinema (3)
Survey of European films by Jewish filmmakers
or films dealing with Jewish themes, from 1920s to the present. Films with English
subtitles. Readings and discussions in English. Cross-listed with GER/ FST 265.
Note: Prerequisite to courses taught in French at 300 level is FRE 202, equivalent
with permission of instructor, or four years of high school French. (See Placement
Guides in this Bulletin.)
301 Reading Theater (3)
Introduces various literary and popular forms of French
theater, its evolution, its appeal to audiences, its relationship to society and
to ideology. Students study the idea of theatricality, on stage as well as offstage,
in its various social and political forms. Introductory course for work at 300
level; required of all French majors. Systematic development of writing and speaking
skills. Prerequisite: FRE 202. CAS-B-LIT.
302 Reading Narrative (3)
Study of narrative as a cultural production that not
only gives aesthetic and intellectual pleasure but has underlying social and philosophical
implications. Students study various forms of narrative fiction in literature
and across the media (i.e., painting, architecture, film) as well as nonfictional
narrative in historical writing, political discourse, and journalism. Systematic
development of writing and speaking skills. Prerequisite: FRE 301. CAS-B-LIT.
303 Reading the Poetic (3)
Study of the poetic as a cultural form having many
different functions: lyrical meditation on experiences such as love and death;
creation of awareness of language and its relations to the senses; and the ways
in which the poetic has been seen to disrupt established patterns of thought and
feeling. Covers verse and prose poems, their conventions, and their critical vocabulary
from various periods. Studies relation between poetry and narrative, theater,
film, the visual arts, philosophic discourse, and popular culture. Systematic
development of writing and speaking skills. Prerequisite: FRE 301. CAS-B-LIT.
307L/308L Practical French (3, 3)
Taught at European Center to meet practical
needs in reading, writing, and speaking for advanced students.
MPT 310 Texts in Context (3)
Examines ways creative texts (significant literary,
historical, graphic, or architectural systems) are linked to various cultural
contexts. Explores the ways in which cultural productions are interconnected to
specific historical contexts in which they are created. Focuses on interrelations
between cultural productions and their historical, sociological, scientific, or
philosophical ramifications. Explains how French cultural discourse has regulated
meaning of French texts and how these texts have changed institutions of cultural
discourse. Systematic development of writing and speaking skills. Prerequisite:
FRE 301.
315L/316L Supervised Training for Apprentice Teachers (2, 2)
Taught at European
Center. Supervised training to prepare students linguistically and methodologically
to lead practice sessions of beginning and intermediate language students. Credit/no-credit
registration only.
334 Colonies and Migrants in French-Language Comics (3)
Surveys French-language
comics related to colonialism and immigration. Uses a cultural studies approach.
Prerequisite: FRE 301.
MPT 341 Conversation and Current Events in France (3)
Focuses on the development
of speaking, writing, and presentation skills based on current social and political
events in France. Viewing and discussions of SCOLA (International News Programming
by Satellite) programming are an integral part of the course.
MPT 341W Conversation and Current Events in France (3)
Offered only in the Summer
Program in Dijon, France. Focuses on the development of speaking, writing, and
presentation skills based on current social and political events in France. Viewing
and discussions of SCOLA (International News Programming by Satellite) programming
are an integral part of the course.
MPT 350 Topics in French Literature in Translation (3)
Discussion of selected
works that suggest particular thematic problems. For non-specialist with little
or no background in French literary history. CAS-B-LIT.
356 Contemporary Jewish Fiction in Europe (3)
Fiction and autobiography from
the 1970s to the present by Jewish authors of diverse European backgrounds. Emphasis
on national identity and changing relationships to the Holocaust. Readings and
discussions in English. Cross-listed with ENG/ GER 356.
361 French Pronunciation (3)
Theoretical and practical study of French pronunciation.
Corrective exercises, laboratory work.
MPT 366 French Cinema in Translation (3)
Critical survey of major directors,
genres, and movements in French cinema. Particular attention devoted to development
of film theory and criticism in France and their relation to film production.
Screening of films by Renoir, Bresson, Bunuel, Godard, Truffaut, Varda, Resnais,
Tavernier, and others. Taught in English; reading in English translation. Cross-listed
with FST 366. CAS-B-LIT.
Note: Prerequisite for the following courses is two courses from FRE 301, 302,
303, 310, or equivalent with permission of instructor.
404/504 The French Renaissance (3)
Study of major writers of prose and poetry
in the French Renaissance, including Rabelais, Montaigne, Labe, Ronsard, and DuBellay.
Offered infrequently.
MPC 410 Senior Seminar (3)
Required of all French majors in their senior year
and open to qualified non-majors, this is a seminar on a selected topic in French
literature designed to allow students to reflect upon what they have learned in
previous French courses in order to further strengthen their powers of critical
thinking and synthesis. Prerequisite: senior standing; also, for majors: three
300-level courses and four 400- level courses (or four 300-level courses and three
400-level courses); for non-majors: three 300-level courses, three 400-level courses,
and permission of instructor. Corequisite for majors: FRE 415.
MPT 411/511 French Civilization (3)
Historical evolution of French society,
its art, architecture, institutions and philosophical outlook. Prerequisite: permission
of instructor.
411D/511D Tutorial in French Civilization (6-9)
Offered only in Summer French
Program in Dijon, France. Directed study of a selected topic concerning French
culture with an emphasis on contemporary issues as they affect the Burgundy region.
For students who have previously successfully completed FRE 411W/511W.
MPT 411W/511W French Civilization (3)
Offered only in the Summer French Program
in Dijon, France. Historical survey of various aspects of French culture with
special emphasis on local Burgundian civilization. Prerequisite: FRE 202 or equivalent.
415 Advanced Composition (3)
Required of all French majors in their senior year,
this course, which provides instruction in advanced French composition, is designed
to complement FRE 410. Take concurrently with FRE 410.
416/516 Colonialism, Comics and Caricature in Algeria (3)
Studies relationships
between popular visual-textual iconography, especially cartoons and comics, and
French colonialism in Algeria. Uses a socio-historical approach to analyze material
from 1830 to the present. Compares material by artists from France, Algeria, and
other countries. Prerequisite(s): nine hours of 300-level French courses successfully
completed to take course at undergraduate level ( FRE 416), or approval of instructor.
Graduate standing and approval of instructor to take course at graduate level
( FRE 516).
423/523 Classical French Theatre of the 17th and 18th Centuries (3)
Analysis
of major trends in comedy and tragedy in the French theatre of 17th and 18th centuries.
Offered infrequently.
430/530 Topics in Early Modern French Literature (1-3; maximum 6)
Thematic explorations
of early modern French literature of all genres. Focus on critical and research
methods and writing. Prerequisite: FRE 301. CAS-B-LIT.
MPT 431/531 Studies in Contemporary French Thought in Translation (3)
Examination
of major recent currents of French thought, such as existentialism, structuralism,
and poststructuralism, with emphasis on their relation to the study of literary
texts. Course content will vary. Prerequisite: junior or senior standing or permission
of instructor. In English. CAS-B-LIT. Offered infrequently.
442/542 French Novel and ‘Conte' of the 17th and 18th Centuries
(3)
Readings in the prose fiction of Madame de LaFayette, Prévost, Marivaux,
Rousseau, Diderot, and Laclos. CAS-B-LIT. Offered infrequently.
443/543 French Literature and Society (3)
Introduction to the literature and
society of Medieval France. Study of literary texts and works of art, and hands-on
experience with medieval manuscripts and materials used to make them. Conducted
in French.
444/544 Seminar in Medieval French Studies (3)
Focuses on current criticism
in the area of medieval French studies. Topics vary. Readings in French and English.
Old French readings accompanied by modern French translations. Conducted in French.
451/551 19th-Century Prose Fiction to 1850 (3)
Novels of Stendhal, Balzac, and
Hugo; short narratives of Nodier, Gautier, and Mérimée. Offered
infrequently.
MPT 452/552 The Romantic Movement in French Literature (3)
The development of
romanticism in poetry and drama of France in the first half of the 19th century.
CAS-B-LIT. Offered infrequently.
453/553 French Poetry from Baudelaire to Valéry (3)
Aspects of modernism
in the works of five major poets of 19th century and early 20th century: Baudelaire,
Rimbaud, Verlaine, Mallarmé, Valéry. CAS-B-LIT. Offered infrequently.
454/554 The French Realist and Naturalist Novel: Flaubert to Zola (3)
Study
of theme and literary form in major French realist and naturalist writers of the
second half of the 19th century. CAS-B-LIT. Offered infrequently.
MPT 460/560 Topics in French Cinema (3)
In-depth and concentrated study of French
cinema. Focus on specific topics such as film's relation to society, its
relation to the other arts and artistic movements, and its productive role as
an object of philosophical thought. Topics may also include the work of particular
directors, historical periods, and comparative social and aesthetic studies. Taught
in English translation. Available in French for French majors and French graduate
students. Cross-listed with FST 460.
462/562 The 20th-Century Novel: Contemporary Explorations Beyond Existentialism
(3)
Study of the novel's most recent attempts to redefine itself. Texts
include works by Céline, Leiris, Beckett, Robbe-Grillet, Queneau, Sarraute.
CAS-B-LIT. Offered infrequently.
480 Independent Reading for Departmental Honors (3)
600 Seminar in French Literature (1-4)
Intensive study of selected authors and
critical perspectives. Recent offerings included:
600A Literature and Loss
600B Sociology of Culture
600F Early Modern Subjects
614 Introduction to the Study of French Literature (3) Introduction to concepts
of literary history and assumptions and practices of literary criticism by studying
significant examples of literary theory.
617/618 Intensive Course for Graduate Students (3, 3)
Provides reading knowledge
of French for graduate students in other disciplines. (617) No speaking component
in this course. Vocabulary building, through readings, with emphasis on French
grammar for recognition purposes. (618) Readings of increasing difficulty with
emphasis on idiomatic usage in student's own discipline.
680 Independent Study (1-6)
Independent work in French literature or language.
689 TA Orientation Seminar (1)
Required of new graduate assistants. Directly
coordinated with organization of the beginning French course and deals with practical
problems involved in this method of language instruction.
700 Research for Master's Thesis (1-10; usually 6)
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