Franklin & Marshall College

French

A list of regularly offered courses follows. The indication of when a course will be offered is based on the best projection of the department and can be subject to change.

Please note the key for the following abbreviations: (A) Arts; (H) Humanities; (S) Social Sciences; (N) Natural Sciences with Laboratory; (LS) Language Studies requirement; (NSP) Natural Science in Perspective; (NW) Non-Western Cultures requirement.

Courses in French

101. Elementary French I. Every Fall

For students with no previous experience with the language. An introduction to grammar, pronunciation and culture, with emphasis on developing communicative skills. No prerequisite. Staff

102. Elementary French II. Every Semester

Continuation of 101. Prerequisite: FRN 101 or placement. Staff

201. Intermediate French I. (LS) Every Semester

Review and expansion of French language skills. Emphasis on basic language structures, with prac- tice in the active application of these skills to the oral and written production of French. Traditional review of grammar is supplemented by use of current audio, video and digital authentic materials. Prerequisite: FRN 102 or placement. Staff

202. Intermediate French II. (H) Every Semester

Continuation of FRN 201. Perfection of oral, aural and written language skills. Coursework may include discussion of current events in the Francophone world, based on a variety of texts from both literary and contemporary digital and print sources. Emphasis is on developing linguistic and cultural competence. Prerequisite: FRN 201 or placement. Staff

203. Introduction au Monde Francophone. (H) (NW) Every Spring

Selections from Francophone literature will be read, performed and discussed in their cultural context. A variety of exercises are designed to develop oral and written skills and to complete a thorough one-semester grammar review at the intermediate level. Prerequisite: placement. Same as AFS 203. Hébouche

205. Intensive French Conversation. (H) Every Semester

This course is designed to improve skills in oral expression and aural comprehension. Emphasis is on informed conversation and vocabulary acquisition. Coursework includes individual and group work leading to the production of audio and/or video documents in French, as well as intensive pronunciation practice, impromptu speech, and informal writing skills. Extensive use of authentic French documents found on the internet. Prerequisite: FRN 202 or 203 or placement. Piotrowski, Yetter-Vassot

305.France in the Age of Tradition: Introduction to French Studies until 1789.(H) Every Fall

A broad overview of French civilization from the Middle Ages to the 18th century, through representative literary works and other cultural materials (painting, architecture, music, film). Oral and written assignments, along with selective grammar review, are designed to improve students’ language proficiency. Prerequisite: FRN 203 or placement. Staff

306. Revolution and Reaction: Introduction to French Studies 1789 – 1968. (H) Every Spring

A broad overview of French civilization from the Revolution to the Fifth Republic, through representative literary works and other cultural materials (painting, architecture, music, film). Oral and written assignments, along with selective grammar review, are designed to improve students’ language proficiency. Prerequisite: FRN 202, 203 or placement. Staff

364. Francophone Literatures and Cultures. (H) Fall 2012

An introduction to the history and culture of at least two areas of Francophonie, such as Quebec, the Caribbean, the Maghreb and West Africa. Exploration of the cultural, linguistic and political interactions between France and other Francophone countries through literary works, films and other materials. Prerequisite: FRN 305 or 306. Same as AFS 364. Hébouche

368. Fashion as a Reflection of French Culture. (H) Spring 2012

A course on French fashion as a literary and cultural phenomenon. We will look at literary representations of fashion as we consider the implications of fashion as a system of meaning. We will trace the history of haute couture and examine its role as a product for “cultural exportation”. Using literary texts, film, fashion magazines, and internet sources, we will attempt to discover why fashion is so often considered “French,” and we will consider the nature of the relationship between French fashion and society in the 21st century. Yetter-Vassot

381. Seminar: Advanced French/Francophone Studies. (H) Every Fall

A seminar on a single aspect of French or Francophone culture: a writer, genre, theme or movement, seen in historical and cultural context. Prerequisite: at least one course beyond the 305 – 306 level. Recent courses include La Littérature de Guerre; Victor Hugo; Mai 68 en littérature et en film. Topic for 2011: L’Etranger. Open to juniors who petition the department to enroll. Landfried

391. Directed Readings in French. (H) Every Semester

Tutorial for students who have completed FRN 305 or 306 and one other 300 level French course. Students who have a special interest may arrange a tutorial with a faculty member. Enrollment is conditional on instructor’s permission. Staff

481. Seminar: Advanced French/Francophone Studies. (H) Every Fall

A seminar on a single aspect of French or Francophone culture: a writer, genre, theme or movement, seen in historical and cultural context. Prerequisite: at least one course beyond the 305 – 306 level. Recent courses include La Littérature de Guerre; Victor Hugo; Mai 68 en littérature et en film. Topic for 2011: L’Etranger. For seniors only. Landfried

490. Independent Study. Every Semester

The student pursues an in-depth investigation of a topic of special interest, under the direction of an adviser. Available in the senior year as a Senior Research Project. Prerequisite: Permission of chairperson. Staff

Courses Taught in English

115. First-Year Seminar: Once upon a time. . .

Fairy Tales in the French Tradition. (H) (W) Fall 2012 Once upon a time—long before Disney and before the Brothers Grimm—Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Belle, the Beast, and a host of other fairy tale heroes and heroines were regular guests in the literary salons of Paris and Versailles. In a world obsessed with fashion, a world that—many claim — invented fashion along with childhood, 17th- and 18th-century authors from Charles Perrault to Mme Le Prince de Beaumont appropriated folklore and folk motifs and transformed them into stories both elegant and enduring. In this course, we will examine fairy tales in text and film from multiple perspectives, raising questions about narrative, history, gender, psychology, and ideology. In the process, we will practice techniques of close reading and analysis, and we will raise important questions about the culture industry then and now — its power, its influence, its dangers, and its appeal. Same as LIT 115.