FREN 1801 Paris:

City of Light

Ville lumière

2

Prof. Christina Ionescu Office: Crabtree 323 cionescu@mta.ca (506) 364-2487 Mailbox and Secretary: Crabtree 310

Taught entirely in English, on location in Paris and Nice, from May 1st to May 15, 2017.

1

2

Course Description

1

This course is designed to introduce students, through a series of literary, historical and cultural snapshots, to elements which define the essence of Paris (for example, the presence of the Seine, the literary salons of the Ancien Régime, the French Revolution, the World Fairs, the impact of Haussmannisation, the displaying of Manet’s Olympia in the Salon des refusés, the Eiffel Tower, the Parisian café, and François Mitterrand’s les grands travaux).

Using a series of presentations of the Parisian cultural landscape and a broadly interdisciplinary perspective, lectures will explore the development of a vibrant and unique urban centre that has always been a magnet for creative minds and cultural fervour. On location in Paris, we will unravel layers of history by examining architectural landmarks and we will explore artistic trends by looking at key pictorial works portraying the city

2

of Paris. Drawings, engravings, paintings, maps, texts, songs and films will be singled out to show what is perceived as the singularity, timelessness and seductive appeal of Paris.

Through a selection of literary, journalistic and historical readings, students will examine ways in which Paris has been experienced and represented, albeit differently, by French authors and outsiders (artists, writers in exile, travellers – native French or English speakers). In order to clearly distinguish between the Paris of tourists and the Paris of Parisians, we will also look at how the image of Paris as the quintessential romantic city is filtered through popular images and stereotypes of Parisian culture largely diffused by the media and by Hollywood films. We will consider the city as being a credible document that reveals much about the values and aspirations of the people who live there.

3

Course Information J FREN 1801 will include a few days in Nice to allow students to reflect on the central role of the capital city in France by developing a comparison between two key French cities, and also to witness the spread of Paris-born artistic and cultural movements.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

1) to introduce students to the art, culture and history of a vibrant, unique and fascinating world city

2) to discuss the functioning mechanism of cultural stereotypes

3) to incite students to reflect on the importance of art, culture and history in their own cities and communities

4) to emphasize the importance of visual literacy

5) hopefully, to inspire students to be travellers and not tourists in the world

REQUIRED TEXTBOOKS

A series of preparatory readings will be posted in Moodle.

EVALUATION 1) Reading Reflection (20%) * This assignment should be completed and submitted before the trip. 2) Project (50%) * Assignments of topics will be made prior to departure so that students can prepare this in advance. 3) Blog/Journal/Photo Diary (30%) * This component will be prepared on site.

4

Programme * Includes lectures and field trips on the topics listed below. Final schedule will be determined in consultation with the student participants.

1

Practical Orientation *

An Overview of Paris: Art, History, and Culture

* An Overview of Nice: Art, History, and Culture

* Paris, Fashion Capital of the World

* The Opéra Garnier District: From the Belle Époque to The Phantom of the Opera

* Paris in the Age of the Gothic: The Islands

* Montmartre: From Saint-Denis to Amélie

* Saint-Germain-des-Prés: Existentialism in Paris

* Paris in the Age of the Sun King

* Field Trip to Versailles

* Paris in the Eighteenth Century: From the

2

Catacombs to the Place de la Bastille *

The Louvre as a Fortress, Royal Residence and World-Class Museum

* Paris and Modern Art: Le Marais

* Pablo Picasso and Modern Art (Field Trip to Antibes)

* Paris in the Age of Impressionism

* Nice and Impressionist Painters

* Field Trip to Claude Monet’s Giverny

* Paris and the Monumental Works of the Twentieth Century

* A Passion for Collecting French Art: Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild

* The French Classical Garden as a Model

* The Past and Cultural Diversity