Contemporary France
| Code | School | Level | Credits | Semesters |
| MLAC1063 | Modern Languages and Cultures | 1 | 10 | Spring UK |
- Code
- MLAC1063
- School
- Modern Languages and Cultures
- Level
- 1
- Credits
- 10
- Semesters
- Spring UK
Summary
The module examines the political and social development of France from the Second World War to the present day and will explore how certain events in France’s more-or-less recent history (World War Two and decolonisation for example) have and continue to have an impact on France today. The module will use texts and film to explore themes of collaboration and resistance, empire and decolonisation, modernisation and stagnation.
Target Students
Core for UG students reading R120 and students taking MLAC1096 French Beginners, optional for JH students taking French, available to subsidiary and Liberal Arts students.
Classes
- One 1-hour workshop each week for 11 weeks
- One 1-hour lecture each week for 11 weeks
Assessment
- 100% Exam 1 (2-hour)
Assessed by end of spring semester
Educational Aims
The module aims to introduce students to the study of France's recent political history and current political institutions. The module seeks to encourage students to read a variety of texts and documents and to appreciate their different contributions to an understanding of contemporary French society. The module serves as a foundation for many of the courses offered in the second and fourth years devoted either to the study of Modern France or to the broad interdisciplinary area of French Cultural Studies.Learning Outcomes
A. Knowledge and understanding of key aspects of contemporary French history and politics:
•The Constitution of the Fifth Republic and the debates surrounding the type of regime by which France is governed; the role of political parties (A4, A6)
•An understanding of the tradition of street protest in France, with particular reference to the gilet jaune movement
•Immigration in France, issues surrounding the integration of immigrants and the development of beur culture (A4, A6)
B. Intellectual skills:
•The linguistic and contextual analysis of a range of literary and non-literary texts relating to the themes under study (B1, B2)
•The ability to make meaningful connections between texts and their historical and political contexts (B1, B3)
•Engage in independent study and teamwork (B4, B7)
•Develop a coherent argument in both written and oral expression (B5, B6, B8)
C. Professional/practical skills:
•Understand both oral and written French (C1)
•Use relevant book and web-based resources and present a coherent argument in conformity with academic conventions (C4, C5, C6)
D. Transferable/key skills:
•Effective communication in the appropriate register (D1).
•Effective preparation of workshops, using appropriate resources (D2).
•Constructive participation in group discussion and in collaborative projects (D2, D3, D5)
Conveners
- Dr Paul Eric Adrian Smith