Le Beaujolais nouveau est arrivé
 Penn State Altoona
Fall 2004
French 139

France and the French Speaking World


Prof. Carolyn FAY Office Hours:
Eiche 101F 
Monday: 10:00-11:00am
814.949.5783
Tuesday: 2:30-3:30pm
cmf17@psu.edu and by appointment.
   
Course Description

"How can anyone govern a nation that has 246 different kinds of cheese?" --Charles De Gaulle

This course is an introduction to France, the French, and their impact on the world in the domains of government, philosophy, literature, arts, AND of course cuisine.  In addition to studying some defining moments of French political and social history, we will explore the various faces of 21st century France.  Do the French really wear berets and sit around all day smoking in cafés?  Why do French workers go on strike all the time?  What do they really think about the United States and Americans?  For as much as we will learn about France and the French, we will also examine how France is perceived in the U.S. and in the world.  Moreover, we will study those nations and cultures where French is widely spoken, but whose people would hardly identify themselves as "French."  Ultimately, this course will not only introduce you to several cultures, but will also encourage you to think about what "culture" means-- how it structures life, identity and even thought.             

Please note that Fr 139 satisfies the General Education in Humanities requirement (GH) as well as the Intercultural and International Competence requirement (GI).    

Required Materials: (available in the student bookstore)
Fallaize, ed.  The Oxford Book of French Short Stories.  Oxford UP,  2002.
Gopnik.  Paris to the Moon.  Random House,  2000.  
Nadeau and Barlow.  Sixty Million Frenchmen Can't Be Wrong.  Sourcebooks,  2003.  

Texts on Electronic Reserve: (access via the library website)
Bernstein.  Fragile Glory: A Portrait of France and the French.  Plume, 1990.  pp. 99-106.    
Haine.  "A Fractious and Fascinating Country."  The History of France.  Greenwood Press, 2000.  pp. 1-18.   
Stovall.  "From Decolonisation to Neo-Colonialism."  France Since the Second World War.  Pearson, 2002.  pp. 46-62.  

Films on Reserve:
"Amélie" (Jean-Pierre Jeunet, 2001)                       Campus Showing:  7 Sept.  CAC 102 8pm
"Au Revoir les Enfants" (Louis Malle, 1987)         Campus Showing:  18 Oct.  CAC 101 7pm  
"Chocolat" (Claire Denis, 1988)                             Campus Showing:  27 Oct.  CAC 101 7pm
"La Haine" (Mathieu Kassovitz, 1995)                   Campus Showing:  15 Nov..  CAC 101 7pm
"Indochine" (Régis Warnier, 1992)                         Campus Showing:  20 Oct.  CAC 101 7pm
"Ridicule" (Patrice Leconte, 1996)                          Campus Showing:  29 Sept..  CAC 101 7pm

Course Program:

Unit I:  What is France and Who are the French?  

August:
31:    no class (Friday schedule)
September
2:        Introduction

7:        Images of France: Nadeau & Barlow, Intro (p. vii-xv); Ch. 1 (p. 3-13).  Gopnik, "Paris to the Moon" (p. 3-18).  QUESTIONS   
9:        Language:  Nadeau & Barlow, Ch. 12 (p. 161-175) & "Amélie."  QUESTIONS

14:       Geography, Climate & Demographics:  Haine, "A Fractious and Fascinating Country" (p. 1-18); Bernstein, "Blood, Names & Identity" (p. 99-106).  QUESTIONS
16:       Land & Space:  Nadeau & Barlow, Ch. 2 & 3 (p. 15-45).  QUESTIONS  QUIZ

21:       Government & Politics:  Nadeau & Barlow, Ch. 9 & 10 (p. 115-142). QUESTIONS
23:       Government & Politics:  Nadeau & Barlow, Ch. 11 (p. 143-159) & Ch. 4 (p. 47-59).  QUESTIONS  QUIZ

Unit II:  A Brief, Uneven & Impressionistic History of France

28:       From the Gauls to the Sun King:  Nadeau & Barlow, Ch. 6 (p. 75-83)  QUESTIONS
30:       The Enlightenment & Pre-Revolution:  "Ridicule" & Nadeau & Barlow, Ch. 5 (p. 61-73).  QUESTIONS  QUIZ

October
5:        The Century of Revolutions:  Daudet, "The Last Lesson" (in Fallaize).  QUESTIONS  
7:        Revolutions in the Arts:  Maupassant, "The Necklace" (in Fallaize).  QUESTIONS  
           FIRST DRAFT of Essay due in class.  Paper Topics.

12:      The Belle Epoque & War: Sartre, "The Wall" (in Fallaize).  QUESTIONS  
14:      WWII & the Occupation:  Nadeau & Barlow, Ch. 7 (p. 85-99).  QUESTIONS  QUIZ

19:     "Les Années noires:" Gopnik, "Papon's Paper Trail" (p. 106-122); "Au Revoir les Enfants." QUESTIONS
21:      Colonisation & Decolonisation: Stovall, "From Decolonisation to Neo-Colonialism" (p. 46-62) & "Indochine." (Film viewing of "Indochine"= optional) QUIZ  QUESTIONS

26:      The Algerian War: Nadeau & Barlow, ch. 8 (p. 101-112); Camus, "The Guest" (in Fallaize)  QUESTIONS
28:      Francophonie and Identity:  "Chocolat" & Djebar, "There is No Exile" (in Fallaize).  QUESTIONS  QUIZ

Unit III:  French Culture & Society in the 21st Century

November
2:       Food!  Bread, Cheese, Wine & More: Fraser, "The French Paradox" (Salon.com); Gopnik, "The Crisis in           French Cooking" (p. 144-165).  QUESTIONS  
4:       Leisure:  Gopnik, "The Rules of the Sport" (p. 61-68) & "The World Cup and After" (p. 215-227);                   Saumont, "The Finest Story in the World" (in Fallaize).  QUESTIONS
          ESSAY (final version) due in class

9:       Birth, Death and Taxes:  Nadeau & Barlow, ch. 18 (p.  247-260); Gopnik, "The Chill" (p. 69-77) &                 "Like a King" (p. 296-311).  QUESTIONS
11:     Education:  Nadeau & Barlow, ch. 13 (p. 177-190).  In-class viewing of "The Hate."  QUESTIONS QUIZ

16:     The Protest Life: Nadeau & Barlow, ch. 17 (p. 233-245); Gopnik, "The Strike" (p.28-35).  In-class viewing of "The Hate."  QUESTIONS
18:     Class Canceled.  In lieu of quiz, submit answers to reading questions below. 
          Immigration & Racism: Barlow & Nadeau, Ch. 21 (p. 295-311).  QUESTIONS

23:    Discussion of Immigration & Racism (N&B Ch. 21 & "The Hate")
         Project Progress Report and Annotated Bibliography due in class 
        Assignment and Format for Bibliography
25:    Thanksgiving Holiday

30:    Presentations  Guidelines for Oral Presentations
1:30:  Morocco (Sonia B. & Laura H.)
1:45:  Quebec (Dave B., Allison S., & Chris G.)
2:05:  Senegal (Julie M. & Antonio F.)

December
2:      Presentations
1:20:  Switzerland (Yates H.)
1:35:  Haiti (Crystalee C.)
1:50:  Madagascar (Mallory M., Lindsey C. & Lauren S.)
2:10:  Ivory Coast (Jerry W.)

7:      Presentations
1:20:  Martinique (Fadia D. & Marcus W.)
1:35:  Luxembourg (Vidge W. & Steve M.)
1:50:  Democratic Republic of the Congo (Kim S. & Gina G.)
2:05:  Belgium (Chris C. & Miranda H.)

9:      Presentations
1:20:  Cameroun (Gina P. & Lara R.)
1:35:  Tunisia (Beth C.)
1:50:  Guadeloupe (Kylie H. & Craig W.)
2:05:  New Caledonia (Mike D.)

Final Exam: December 15: 3:10-5:00 131E Smith   *How to Prepare for the Final Exam*

Important Dates

    Final day of drop/add period: Sept. 9
    Late drop deadline: Nov. 18
    Final day to withdrawal from a course: Dec. 10

Grade Breakdown:

Final Project & Presentation: 25%
Cultural Essay: 25%
Participation and Preparation: 15%
Quizzes (7 out of 8): 20%
Final Exam: 15%

Grading Scale:

A:  93-100; A-: 90-92; B+: 88-89; B: 83-87; B-: 80-82; C+: 78-79; C: 70-77; D: 60-69; F: 0-59

Requirements and Guidelines

1. Readings: All readings must be completed for the date assigned on the syllabus. Page numbers are indicated on the syllabus.  Readings will vary in length, but will generally not exceed 40 pages per class meeting.  Some days the "reading" will be a film.  All films are on reserve at the library.  In addition, I will also schedule an optional screening for the class.  You are responsible for viewing each film in advance of the class discussion.  

2. Participation: Regular contributions to class discussion are vital to your learning experience. Please do not hesitate to speak up in class, ask questions, try out an idea, agree or disagree with the class discussion. We are all here to learn and all ideas are worthy of attention. Fr 139 is not a lecture class and although there are a lot of us, everyone will be expected to contribute to discussion as best as he or she can. You are permitted two (2)‎ no-questions-asked unexcused absences during the semester. After the second unexcused absence, your grade will be lowered accordingly. Any student with excessive absences may earn an F for the course. If you must miss class due to illness, family emergency, participation in a varsity sport (letter from your coach required)‎, or religious holiday, please notify me as soon as possible.

3. Weekly Quiz: Nearly every week there will be a short quiz on the reading material. Usually these will be administered on Thursdays and they will always be announced in class the Tuesday before. The purpose of the quiz is to ensure that everyone keeps up with the readings and to verify basic comprehension of the material. At the end of the semester I will drop your lowest quiz score.

4. Papers and Projects: Each student will write one analytical paper of 5-6 pages, the "Cultural Essay," in which you will compare, contrast and analyze a cross-cultural topic.  I will provide you with a list of possible topics for the essay as well as guidelines for the format.  All drafts should be typed and double-spaced. The paper grades will reflect your work throughout each stage of the writing process. Please note the due dates on the syllabus for all drafts. Grades will be lowered for papers submitted after the deadlines.
    During the second half of the semester, you will work on a small group project.  Each group will be assigned a different French-speaking country or region (other than France) and will prepare an oral presentation to give to the class at the end of the semester.  Details to come.     

5. Final Exam: The final exam is scheduled for December 15, 3:10-5:00 in 131E Smith.  This will likely be an essay exam which will ask you to pull together information and ideas we have discussed throughout the semester and apply them to a broad question.  In short you will demonstrate your "intercultural competence."  More details to come.  

6.  Academic Integrity:  You are responsible for reviewing and observing University policies governing academic honesty, as in explained in The Student Guide to University Policies and Rules.  Any case of academic dishonesty (plagiarism, cheating, etc.) may result in a failing grade on an exam, essay, presentation, or in the course.  More serious cases may result in permanent expulsion from the University.