French Seminar
Code
711111087
Academic unit
Faculdade de Ciências Sociais e Humanas
Department
Línguas, Culturas e Literaturas Modernas, Secção de Estudos Espanhóis, Franceses e Italianos
Credits
12
Teacher in charge
Teresa Almeida
Weekly hours
4
Teaching language
Portuguese
Objectives
a) To be able to reflect on the nature of French-speaking novel of the twentieth century;
b) To be able to produce a commentary on a text, linking this with contemporary literary creation ;
c)To have the critical ability to analyse theoretical thinking, knowing how to link certain concepts with the reading of the works studied in the seminar.
d) To acquire the ability to produce a research paper based on one of the themes covered, using a specialised bibliography and dealing with concepts from within Literary (or Cultural) Studies.
Prerequisites
Intermediate level knowledge of the French language.
Subject matter
A) Theory
1. Critical tradition: Structuralism, Post-Structuralism and Deconstruction
2. Feminist thought: Hélène Cixous and Julia Kristeva
3. The problematic reception of Cultural Studies and Post-Colonial Studies in France
4. A new Literary History?
5. The crisis of Literary Studies and the defense of Humanities
B) Space and identities in contemporary fiction
1. La peste by Albert Camus
2. Nouvelles orientales by Marguerite Yourcenar
3. L´amant by Marguerite Duras
4. Vaste est la prison by Assia Djebar
Bibliography
Compagnon, A. (2007). «XXeme siècle». In Mélonio, F., Marchal, B., Noiray, J. & Compagnon, A. (dir.) , La littérature française: dynamique et histoire. Paris: Folio, p. 676-843.
Cixous, H. (2010). Le rire de la Méduse : et autres ironies . Paris : Galilée.
Derrida, J. (1996). Le monolinguisme de l´autre. Paris: Galilée.
Hollier, D. (dir.) (1993). De la littérature française. Paris: Bordas.
Kidd, W. & Reynolds, S. ( eds.) (2000). Contemporary French Cultural Studies . London: Routledge.
Kristeva, J. (2003). Le génie féminin: la vie, la folie, les mots. Paris : Gallimard.
McDonald, C. & Suleiman, S. R. (2011). French Global. A New Approach to Literary History . New York: Columbia University Press.
Schaeffer, J.-M. (2011). Petite écologie des études littéraires. Pourquoi et comment étudier la littérature? Vincennes: Éditions Thierry Marchaisse
Tonnet-Lacroix, É. (2003). La littérature française et francophone de 1945 à l´an 2000. Paris: l´Harmattan.
Teaching method
Lectures about different topics of the syllabus.
Discussion of papers.
Supervision, focused on preparing and carrying out a research paper.
Assessment of knowledge implies a minimum of 2/3 of class attendance as well as the submission of a research paper which should show knowledge of the issues covered as well as the ability to deal in a critical manner with the concepts covered in the course.
Evaluation method
Submission of an essay in the areas of the seminar:
- Writing assignment (80%);
- Oral presentation and defence of the assignment (20%).