Francophone Cultures I
A.Y. 2025/2026
Learning objectives
The course uses a historical-diachronic approach to introduce students to the historical, political and social contexts of certain French-speaking areas, as well as the cultural and intercultural practices that developed in the various countries. During the course, different media (literary texts, critical texts, images, videos) will be presented, examined and compared using a transdisciplinary approach, enabling students to understand the cultural specificities of major francophone areas (Antilles, Québec, Africa etc.)
Expected learning outcomes
Students should be able to identify, understand and examine various cultural phenomena in certain francophone areas, also in light of the metropolitan context in which they occur. Students should be equipped to reflect on the issues covered by this cultural investigation and come up with possible solutions, considering strategies that were already adopted in the framework of inclusive practices, or that could be implemented in the future.
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
The programme is entitled: Séquelles de la colonisation : le cas de l'Afrique.
It is divided into three parts:
A. Recherches d'affranchissement et revendications identitaires
B. Images d'Afrique
C. L'Afrique en dehors du continent
This course aims to investigate some of the main threads of reflection on Africa and Africans. It will start from the revolutionary vision proposed by the Négritude, a literary, cultural and political movement that developed in Paris in the 1930s, anticipating the Independences. A reading of Peau noire, masques blancs (1952) will follow, which highlights the subjugation of the Western white model in the self-determination processes of Black communities. The reflection developed by Boubacar Boris Diop between the 1990s and the early 2000s in L'Afrique au-delà du Miroir (2007) will then be studied. Special space will be reserved for the intellectual's treatment of the Tutsi genocide in Rwanda. The testimonial of Tierno Monénembo in L'aîné des orphelins (2003) will be read. We will continue with Alain Mabanckou and his singular collection of observations Le sanglot de l'homme noir (2012) and the documentary he directed (with Aurélia Perreau) Noirs en France (2022).
It is divided into three parts:
A. Recherches d'affranchissement et revendications identitaires
B. Images d'Afrique
C. L'Afrique en dehors du continent
This course aims to investigate some of the main threads of reflection on Africa and Africans. It will start from the revolutionary vision proposed by the Négritude, a literary, cultural and political movement that developed in Paris in the 1930s, anticipating the Independences. A reading of Peau noire, masques blancs (1952) will follow, which highlights the subjugation of the Western white model in the self-determination processes of Black communities. The reflection developed by Boubacar Boris Diop between the 1990s and the early 2000s in L'Afrique au-delà du Miroir (2007) will then be studied. Special space will be reserved for the intellectual's treatment of the Tutsi genocide in Rwanda. The testimonial of Tierno Monénembo in L'aîné des orphelins (2003) will be read. We will continue with Alain Mabanckou and his singular collection of observations Le sanglot de l'homme noir (2012) and the documentary he directed (with Aurélia Perreau) Noirs en France (2022).
Teaching methods
The course will be held through face-to-face lessons in French in which the exposition of topics will be supported by the analysis of textual, iconographic and multimedia documents, which will be discussed in class.
Teaching Resources
The webpage for the course is online on the MyAriel platform ('Francophone Cultures I- II'), to which students are invited to refer for all information and material uploaded by the teacher.
Bibliography for attending and non-attending students:
Part A
Frantz Fanon, Peau noire, masques blancs
- a dossier of materials and critical texts to be uploaded on the MyAriel platform
Part B
Boubacar Boris Diop, L'Afrique au dela du miroir
Tierno Monénembo, L'aîné des orphélins
Jean-Paul Habimana, Oltre la paura, Genocidio dei tutsi e riconciliazione in Ruanda
- a dossier of materials and critical texts to be uploaded on the MyAriel platform
Part C
Alain Mabanckou, Le sanglot de l'homme noir
Alain Mabanckou, Noirs en France
- a dossier of critical materials and texts that will be uploaded onto the MyAriel platform
Non-attending students are invited to contact the teacher in charge before starting exam preparation.
Bibliography for attending and non-attending students:
Part A
Frantz Fanon, Peau noire, masques blancs
- a dossier of materials and critical texts to be uploaded on the MyAriel platform
Part B
Boubacar Boris Diop, L'Afrique au dela du miroir
Tierno Monénembo, L'aîné des orphélins
Jean-Paul Habimana, Oltre la paura, Genocidio dei tutsi e riconciliazione in Ruanda
- a dossier of materials and critical texts to be uploaded on the MyAriel platform
Part C
Alain Mabanckou, Le sanglot de l'homme noir
Alain Mabanckou, Noirs en France
- a dossier of critical materials and texts that will be uploaded onto the MyAriel platform
Non-attending students are invited to contact the teacher in charge before starting exam preparation.
Assessment methods and Criteria
The examination will be oral and the student will be able to choose whether to take it in French or in Italian; it will begin with the analysis of a document, either from among those studied in class or on a study freely proposed by the candidate on the basis of a little personal research possibly guided by the teacher. The examination will then focus on the contexts and themes illustrated in the course.
L-LIN/03 - FRENCH LITERATURE - University credits: 9
Lessons: 60 hours
Professor:
Paraboschi Francesca
Professor(s)
Reception:
Tuesday, 9:00-12:00
Piazza Sant'Alessandro 1