Cultures of Contemporary France I
A.Y. 2025/2026
Learning objectives
The course will adopt a transdisciplinary approach to provide students with an in-depth knowledge of cultural practices that developed in France as a result of historical and political factors. To this end, the course will be held in French. Through the study and comparison of literary and critical texts, images, videos, documentaries and AI tools, students will understand the cultural and transcultural dynamics at work in contemporary France — with an excursus on Francophone countries — particularly in the fields of international communication, mediation and cooperation.
Expected learning outcomes
Thanks to the use of critical and methodological tools such as Large Language Models (LLM), students will develop the ability to understand, analyse and compare different cultural systems, as well as social and anthropological relational dynamics (with a focus on the theme of inclusion), intercultural and transcultural relations within migration phenomena, cultural bias and cross-media communication models. Notably, the course will provide students with the broadest possible understanding of the diversities within contemporary French-speaking societies, encouraging them to propose possible solutions to the issues that may arise from their analysis.
Lesson period: First semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course can be attended as a single course.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
First semester
Course syllabus
TITLE: Ecology and resistance. Environmental imaginaries in the face of modernity in France and the French-speaking world (XXᵉ-XXIᵉ centuries)
Aim: To explore the intersections between literature, ecology and globalisation through literary texts and comics using an ecocritical approach.
This theme brings together ecological issues, postcolonial criticism and media representations, encouraging a cross-disciplinary reading of France and the French-speaking world.
Module 1: French literature - Technological conquest and ecological crises (20h)
Context: Modernisation, urbanisation and environmental criticism in contemporary France.
Literary texts :
1. Maylis de Kerangal, Naissance d'un pont (2010) , Paris, Gallimard, coll. Folio (also KINDLE)
2. Étienne Mauvigner, Le Tour du monde (2016), Paris, Minuit ddouble (also KINDLE)
Text review:
A. Ghosh, La grande cecità, NeriPozza, 2017 (or in English v.o.)
Module 2: Francophone literatures - Resource exploitation and resistance (20h)
Context: Postcolonialism, extractivism and climate justice in the Francophone space.
Literary texts:
1. In Koli Jean Bofane, Congo Inc. Le testament de Bismarck (2016), Paris, Babel (also KINDLE)
2. LAFERRIÈRE, Dany, Tout bouge autour de moi (2011), Paris, Grasset & Fasquelle, Le Livre de Poche (also KINDLE)
Critical text:
Zones à dire. Pour une écopoétique transculturelle. Dossier coordonné par Le Collectif ZoneZadir · Littérature 2021/1 N° 201. Armand Colin : en libre accès : https://zonezadir.hypotheses.org/dossier-ecopoetique-transculturelle.
Module 3: Cultural mediation - 'Artivism' and ecology
Context: Comics, exhibitions and new media as tools for raising awareness of environmental issues.
Materials:
1. Comic: BRÉTÉCHER, Claire, Les amours écologiques du Bolot occidental, Dargaud Bénélux, 2007 (3rd ed.), [1977], 60 pages. KINDLE version:
2. Exhibition: Plastique Mer* (Mucem, 2024): https://www.mucem.org/evenement/un-grand-musee-bleu/
3. Podcast on the ecological theme by Radio France Internationale: https://www.rfi.fr/fr/tag/environnement/
Aim: To explore the intersections between literature, ecology and globalisation through literary texts and comics using an ecocritical approach.
This theme brings together ecological issues, postcolonial criticism and media representations, encouraging a cross-disciplinary reading of France and the French-speaking world.
Module 1: French literature - Technological conquest and ecological crises (20h)
Context: Modernisation, urbanisation and environmental criticism in contemporary France.
Literary texts :
1. Maylis de Kerangal, Naissance d'un pont (2010) , Paris, Gallimard, coll. Folio (also KINDLE)
2. Étienne Mauvigner, Le Tour du monde (2016), Paris, Minuit ddouble (also KINDLE)
Text review:
A. Ghosh, La grande cecità, NeriPozza, 2017 (or in English v.o.)
Module 2: Francophone literatures - Resource exploitation and resistance (20h)
Context: Postcolonialism, extractivism and climate justice in the Francophone space.
Literary texts:
1. In Koli Jean Bofane, Congo Inc. Le testament de Bismarck (2016), Paris, Babel (also KINDLE)
2. LAFERRIÈRE, Dany, Tout bouge autour de moi (2011), Paris, Grasset & Fasquelle, Le Livre de Poche (also KINDLE)
Critical text:
Zones à dire. Pour une écopoétique transculturelle. Dossier coordonné par Le Collectif ZoneZadir · Littérature 2021/1 N° 201. Armand Colin : en libre accès : https://zonezadir.hypotheses.org/dossier-ecopoetique-transculturelle.
Module 3: Cultural mediation - 'Artivism' and ecology
Context: Comics, exhibitions and new media as tools for raising awareness of environmental issues.
Materials:
1. Comic: BRÉTÉCHER, Claire, Les amours écologiques du Bolot occidental, Dargaud Bénélux, 2007 (3rd ed.), [1977], 60 pages. KINDLE version:
2. Exhibition: Plastique Mer* (Mucem, 2024): https://www.mucem.org/evenement/un-grand-musee-bleu/
3. Podcast on the ecological theme by Radio France Internationale: https://www.rfi.fr/fr/tag/environnement/
Prerequisites for admission
Knowledge of the French language is mandatory. A general knowledge of XXth century history and the ability to grasp specific cultural themes and motifs through critical analysis tools is required.
Teaching methods
The course will not only be face-to-face but will also have a seminar-style interaction with learners.
Teaching Resources
Module 1:
Literary texts :
1. Maylis de Kerangal, Naissance d'un pont (2010) , Paris, Gallimard, coll. Folio (also KINDLE)
2. Étienne Mauvigner, Le Tour du monde (2016), Paris, Minuit double (also KINDLE)
Critical text:
A. Ghosh, La grande cecità, NeriPozza, 2017 (or in English v.o.)
Module 2:
Literary texts:
1. In Koli Jean Bofane, Congo Inc. Le testament de Bismarck (2016), Paris, Babel (also KINDLE)
2. LAFERRIÈRE, Dany, Tout bouge autour de moi (2011), Paris, Grasset & Fasquelle, Le Livre de Poche (also KINDLE)
Critical text:
Zones à dire. For a transcultural ecopoetics. Dossier coordinated by Le Collectif ZoneZadir - Littérature 2021/1 N° 201. Armand Colin: open access: https://zonezadir.hypotheses.org/dossier-ecopoetique-transculturelle.
Module 3:
1. BD: BRÉTÉCHER, Claire, Les amours écologiques du Bolot occidental, Dargaud Bénélux, 2007 (3rd ed.), [1977], 60 pages. KINDLE version:
2. Exhibition: Plastique Mer* (Mucem, 2024): https://www.mucem.org/evenement/un-grand-musee-bleu/
3. Podcast on the ecological theme by Radio France Internationale: https://www.rfi.fr/fr/tag/environnement/
Literary texts :
1. Maylis de Kerangal, Naissance d'un pont (2010) , Paris, Gallimard, coll. Folio (also KINDLE)
2. Étienne Mauvigner, Le Tour du monde (2016), Paris, Minuit double (also KINDLE)
Critical text:
A. Ghosh, La grande cecità, NeriPozza, 2017 (or in English v.o.)
Module 2:
Literary texts:
1. In Koli Jean Bofane, Congo Inc. Le testament de Bismarck (2016), Paris, Babel (also KINDLE)
2. LAFERRIÈRE, Dany, Tout bouge autour de moi (2011), Paris, Grasset & Fasquelle, Le Livre de Poche (also KINDLE)
Critical text:
Zones à dire. For a transcultural ecopoetics. Dossier coordinated by Le Collectif ZoneZadir - Littérature 2021/1 N° 201. Armand Colin: open access: https://zonezadir.hypotheses.org/dossier-ecopoetique-transculturelle.
Module 3:
1. BD: BRÉTÉCHER, Claire, Les amours écologiques du Bolot occidental, Dargaud Bénélux, 2007 (3rd ed.), [1977], 60 pages. KINDLE version:
2. Exhibition: Plastique Mer* (Mucem, 2024): https://www.mucem.org/evenement/un-grand-musee-bleu/
3. Podcast on the ecological theme by Radio France Internationale: https://www.rfi.fr/fr/tag/environnement/
Assessment methods and Criteria
The examination will be oral, in French, and consists of an interview to test the skills and knowledge acquired. Group activities are planned in the third module.
Educational website(s)
Professor(s)