Office Hours

Syllabus

Issues in contemporary French society as expressed through movies made in the 1990s. Topics include: France's national self-image, the women's movement, sexuality and gender, family life and class structure, post-colonialism and immigration, and American cultural imperialism. Films by Lelouch, Audiard, Doillon, Denis, Klapisch, Resnais, Rouan, Balasko, Collard, Dridi, Kassovitz, and others. Readings from French periodicals. Films shown with English subtitles. Taught in French. Prereq - 21F.304

Prereqs:  21F.304, 21F.374, or permission of instructor

21F.341, Contemporary French Film and Social Issues

Spring 2010: This class will examine aspects of French contemporary society through genre films and « auteur » films. After a brief presentation, students will see a film every Thursday, and discuss it every Tuesday, with the help of critical texts. We will explore successively youth problems (L’auberge espagnole 2001, De battre mon cœur s’est arrêté 2005, Je vais bien, ne t’en fais pas 2006), post-colonial contradictions (L’Esquive 2003, Indigènes 2006, La Journée de la jupe 2009), gender (Vénus beauté Institut 1999, Baise-moi 2000, Ma vie sexuelle ou comment je me suis disputé 1994), class and social différences (Le Dîner de cons 1998, Ressources humaines 2000, Le goût des autres 2000). Class will be conducted entirely in French.

Units: 2-2-8(U)