Course Overview
This page focuses on the course 21G.341 Contemporary French Film and Social Issues as it was taught by Catherine Clark in Spring 2014.
This course covers issues in contemporary French society as expressed through movies made in the 2000s. 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. The class is taught in French.
Course Outcomes
Course Goals for Students
- Analyze the role of film in contemporary French society.
- Articulate the complexities of key social issues in France.
- Perform visual analysis of moving images.
- Identify the particularities of the French film industry.
- Improve French language skills.
Curriculum Information
Prerequisites
One intermediate subject in French or permission of the instructor.
Requirements Satisfied
- HASS
- This course can be applied toward a Bachelor of Science in Foreign Languages and Literatures, but is not required.
Offered
Every spring semester.
Instructor Interview
"I encourage my students to read French newspapers, listen to French radio, or watch French TV in order to gain context."
Below, Catherine Clark describes various aspects of how she taught 21G.341 Contemporary French Film and Social Issues.
This content of this course is dynamic because it features actual contemporary social issues in France and the films that have become part of discussions around them.
I have found it helpful to pair the films with readings that give students understandings of these social contexts. I also encourage my students to read French newspapers, listen to French radio, or watch French TV. Short lectures in class help show them how something they find shocking or innocuous might read to a French audience.
Students lead many of the discussions in this class. My advice for other educators hoping to do something similar would be to pair student-led discussions with questions generated by the instructor. This allows the instructor to help guide students’ approach to the week’s materials.
Assessment
The students’ grades were based on the following activities:
- 20% Participation
- 20% Responses
- 15% Discussion
- 35% Papers
- 10% Presentation
Student Information
Enrollment
14 students
Breakdown by Year
A few sophomores, mostly juniors and seniors.
Enrollment Cap
Enrollment is capped at 18 for pedagogical purposes. In case of over enrollment, preference is given to pre-registered declared French majors, minors, and concentrators, followed by juniors, seniors, sophomores, continuing students, and freshmen (in that order), who attend the first day of class.
How Student Time Was Spent
During an average week, students were expected to spend 12 hours on the course, roughly divided as follows:
In Class
- Met 2 times per week for 2 hours per session; 24 sessions total; mandatory attendance.
- Students viewed films and participated in student-led classroom discussions about contemporary French culture.
- The final seminar session was devoted to student presentations.
Out of Class
Students viewed films independently and completed readings, response papers, a research paper and a final presentation.
