Teaching code

4S002900

Teacher

Stefano Genetti

Coordinator

Stefano Genetti

Credits

6

Language

Italian

Scientific Disciplinary Sector (SSD)

L-LIN/03 - FRENCH LITERATURE

Period

II semestre dal Feb 18, 2019 al Jun 1, 2019.

Lessons timetable Moodle Seminars 2

Learning outcomes

This course introduces to some voices and aspects of modern and contemporary French literature in order to develop critical readings of relevant literary texts in relation to social, economic and artistic changes in the recent history of French culture.
At the end of this course, students shall therefore acquire knowledge in French cultural history, along with the capacity of applying such knowledge to critical readings of relevant literary texts concerning the identitarian, relational, historical, cultural, social and ecomonical issues the course deals with.

Program

(Im)migration and (dis)integration

From the years of decolonization, at the end of the Second World War, to nowaday’s migratory flows, from the massacre of the Algerian protesters in Paris on October 17, 1961 to the so-called “jungle” near Calais, the complex geo-political, legal, anthropological, demographical and social implications of immigration issues have had a strong impact on French popular culture and art. They have also played a major role in the renewal of the language and forms of French literature as well as of literary engagement. With the history of recent migratory flows in France in the background and a focus on Algeria, this course discusses both narrative and dramatic works and concentrates on recurrent identitarian, intergenerational, social, economical and cultural themes, in the intent of rethinking the present situation through literature.
The following texts will be discussed:
1) Romain Gary’s novel La vie devant soi (1975), Didier Deaninckx’s detective story Meurtres pour mémoire (1984), and Nina Bouraoui autofiction Garçon manqué (2000);
2) dramas by Bernard-Marie Koltès (Le retour au désert, 1988) and Nasser Djemaï (Vertiges, 2017);
3) Maylis de Kerangal’s À ce stade de la nuit (2015, inspired by a shipwreck off the coast of Lampedusa on October 3, 2015) and some of the texts written by several contemporary French authors in benefit of the UN Refugee agency (Bienvenue! 34 auteurs pour les réfugiés, 2015).

Among the literary works discussed during the course, each student shall choose three. A complete and in-depth reading in French of these three works is required.
Students must achieve overall knowledge concerning the recent history of immigration in France, along with the ability to comment on all the literary texts (excerpts as well as complete in-depth readings), with particular regard to the themes the course deals with.

A detailed program with bibliographical information, as well as a selection of literary and critical texts, will be given at the beginning of the course.
Students attending the course will be given access to a mid-term paper (1/2 of the final evaluation): students will be required to comment on an excerpt from one of the texts discussed during the course.
Students unable to attend the course are requested to contact the teacher (e-mail and office hours). Some critical readings given at the beginning of the course are especially selected for them in order to prepare the final oral exam.

The course, as well as the mid-term paper and the final oral exam, are in Italian. All texts (literary excerpts and extended readings) must be in French.
Further instructions, concerning both the mid-term paper and the oral exam, will be given during the course.

Select bibliography

Michel Agier, Les migrants et nous. Comprendre Babel, Paris, CNRS Éditions, 2016.
Henri Alleg, La question (1958-1961) suivi de La torture au cœur de la République par Jean-Pierre Roux, Paris, Éditions de Minuit, 2008.
Ahmed Djouder, Désintégration, Paris, J’ai lu, 2007.
Éric Frottino (sous la direction de), Pourquoi les migrants? Comprendre les flux de population, Paris Le 1/Philippe Rey, 2016.
Patrick Gambache (éditeur), Bienvenue! 34 auteurs pour les réfugiés, Paris, Points, 2015.
Djemaa Maazouozi, Le partage des mémoires. La guerre d’Algérie en littérature, au cinéma et sur le web, Paris, Classiques Garnier 2015.
Guy Pervillé, La guerre d’Algérie, Paris, Presses Universitaires de France, 2016.
Claire Rodier avec la collaboration de Catherine Portevin, Migrants et réfugiés. Réponse aux indécis, aux inquiets et aux réticents, Paris, Éditions La Découverte, 2016.
Emmanuel Vaillant, L’immigration, Paris, Milan, 2006.
Catherine Wihtol de Wenden, Le droit d’émigrer, Paris, CNRS Éditions, 2013.

Examination Methods

For students attending the course who choose to present their mid-term paper, the final evaluation will be the result of:
a) mid-term paper (1/2 of the evaluation);
b) oral exam (1/2 of the evaluation).
For students unable to attend the course, the complete program will be discussed during the oral exam exam.