Professor: Luke Arnason

Email: arnason@yorku.ca

This course explores key aspects of French culture through representative readings of major figures in literature, art, philosophy, and social and political thought, from the Renaissance to post-war France. It aims to familiarise students with the principal historical events and artistic/intellectual movements that have shaped French society over the past 500 years. It also aims to highlight some of the recurring themes, tensions and unresolved issues that have marked French history and culture. Finally, it aims to introduce students to the methodologies and techniques proper to the academic discussion of history, art and culture, including a discussion of appropriate analytic approaches, research techniques and proper writing style.

• Jones, Colin. The Cambridge Illustrated History of France. Cambridge University Press, 1999. ISBN: 9780521669924
• Additional readings will be provided as electronic resources accessible via the eClass site.

Weekly tutorial assignments: 20%

Fall term paper: 20%

Winter term paper: 20%

Fall term test: 20%

Winter term test: 20%

This course contains both a lecture and a tutorial component.

The lectures offer an overview of a given period or work, including the presentation of relevant artistic works or cultural productions such as music, artistic or architectural works, plays, operas or other literary texts.

The tutorials are intended as an occasion check your understanding of course content, ask questions, and benefit from the guidance of your tutorial leader as necessary. The methodological components of the course will principally be covered and evaluated in the tutorials.

By the end of the course, students will:

• gain an interdisciplinary appreciation of various aspects of French culture (literary, visual, architectural, musical, etc.)
• have familiarity with the chronology and interplay between a range of historical periods and movements
• be familiar with library research skills and understand issues of academic honesty and the conventions of bibliographical referencing
• learn strategies to develop their critical thinking skills in the areas of reading, note-taking, presenting and defending a position, and writing that demonstrates knowledge, comprehension, analysis, synthesis and evaluation of materials read and discussed in the course.