Mar 28, 2024  
2019-2020 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2019-2020 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

FREN 365 - Of Avatars and Apes: The Supernatural and Science in French Fiction


Prerequisite, FREN 201 . What do we know about ourselves in the world, on this planet? How do we react to fundamental shifts in society that lead us to question our place within it? How do we interpret the world around us? In this course, we will examine the ways in which French writers use imaginary worlds and temporalities to reflect on society. As advances were made in science and industry in 19th and 20th-century France, writers sought to express their fears and concerns concerning these changes through stories. By examining three distinct yet interrelated genres–French fairy tales, fantastical short stories, and science fiction novels–we will analyze the ways in which each seeks to use supernatural experiences, extraterrestrial beings, and distant places to explore the unknown, both in the external world and especially within their own unconscious. Readings will include, among others, fairy tales by Charles Perrault, short stories by Maupassant and Gauthier, and novels by René Barjavel and Pierre Boulle. Secondary readings will assist in problematizing our analysis and discussions. Two to three films will also be screened throughout the semester to supplement our readings. (Offered as needed.) 3 credits