Course Catalog

PARIS VU PAR LES PHOTOGRAPHES (FR2046)

This course is intended to expose students to the various neighborhoods of Paris. They will discover many aspects of the city - the unexpected, the hidden culture, and the everyday lives of Parisians by plunging into the works of Brassaï, Doisneau, Cartier-Bresson, Kertész, Lartigue, Sieff, Bourdin, Newton, Klein, Calle and other masters of photography. The course encourages students to develop their own creative process by producing porte-folios including both their photographs and their written texts on Paris.
Ce cours fait découvrir aux étudiants les quartiers de Paris, leurs aspects les plus insolites et les plus secrets mais aussi les plus quotidiens en les plongeant dans les univers de Brassaï, Doisneau, Cartier-Bresson, Kertész, Lartigue, Sieff, Bourdin, Newton, Klein, Calle et autres maîtres de la photographie. Ce cours privilégie une démarche créative de la part des étudiants qui devront produire des photos et des textes sur Paris.

RISE OF THE HERO & THE POET IN FRENCH LIT (FR2057)

"The Rise of the Hero and the Poet in French Literature" (formerly "Masters of French Literature 1") has been modified to give AUP students and visitors an opportunity to engage with the canonical texts and counter-texts of French literature across its long span, from the Middle Ages to the present. French literature was the first vernacular literature to emerge on the European scene and until relatively recently it remained the most influential.

This panoramic overview of French literature is anchored in bilingual editions, inviting participants to interact closely with the French originals and their facing English translations (including The Song of Roland, François Villon, Voltaire’s Candide, a Beckett play). Depending on the individual student’s needs, supporting readings will be recommended in French or English. Written work may be submitted in either language. French is not a requirement, but the better the student’s level, the more he or she will benefit from the course.

INTRO TO LINGUISTICS/ A LA LINGUISTIQUE (FR2060)

A bilingual survey of linguistics conducted in French and English. Combines theory and practice to introduce students to the basic concepts in phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics and pragmatics. Focuses on the study of the human language as a system, the forms and functions of words and sentence elements, the creativity inherent in language systems, and language varieties. Prepares students to further investigate areas such as Historical linguistics, sociolinguistics, psycholinguistics, language pathologies and first/second language acquisition.

THEATER IN PARIS (FR2075)

This course essentially happens in the theatres of Paris, exploring the city’s fabulous resources, exchanging with practitioners and scholars from other institutions. We see ways of integrating music, dance and “physical theatre,” innovative explorations of classics from European and non-European traditions, avant-garde masters and the brightest young experimental troupes. We have theatre that directly questions political dilemmas, collective theatre and director-driven theatre, machine theatre and theatre based around great individual actors. Taught in French. Papers done in French or English.
Course fee attached.

TOPICS IN FRENCH & POLITICS or CL (FR2090)

Topics vary every semester
Pre-requisite: FR 1200

TOPICS IN FRENCH (FR2091)

Topics vary by semester

FRENCH FICTION NOW: TRADUIRE LE ROMAN FRANCAIS CONTEMP. (FR2094)

Ce cours introduira les étudiants aux techniques et aux problématiques de la traduction littéraire par le cas particulier des traductions en anglais de romans contemporains écrits en français. La traduction sera discutée comme un transfert culturel : en observant comment des écrivains représentatifs (Houellebecq, Djebar, Gavalda…) ont été reçus aux USA, et en GB, et en faisant le commentaire de trois traductions récentes. L’essentiel du cours sera consacré à l’expérience collective et individuelle de la traduction d’un livre non encore traduit.

FRENCH AND CULTURE IV (FR2100)

This course reviews basic and complex sentence patterns in greater depth through discussions on students experience in Paris. Cultural and historical aspects of the French life are introduced. Students will learn additional vocabulary to express opinions, beliefs, doubts and emotions, and are shown various language registers (formal/informal vocabulary and structures) and intonations. Examples are taken from real life situations, film, television, newspaper articles, etc.The four language skills (listening, reading, speaking, writing) will be reinforced.

FRENCH AND CULTURE V (FR2200)

This high intermediate course will allow students to reach the B1+ CEFR (DELF) competencies by reinforcing and expanding their ability to express themselves, defend an opinion, and debate with others. Special attention is paid to increasing students' ability to form complex sentences to express attitudes, wishes, necessity, doubt, emotions, to link ideas and to speculate. A B1.1 level in French or a passing grade in a French and Culture IV class (FR 2100) is required.

Spontaneously and through active workshops and discussion, they will react and express their point of view on contemporary subjects and questions, such as access to knowledge (university or other) for all, the gaze on information at a time of “fake news” and the over-multiplication of distribution channels (Internet, social networks, etc.), the representation of so-called “visible” minorities in the media sphere, or the consequences of global warming on countries and their inhabitants...

Through learning that is both individual and collective, debates on ideas based on their past and current experiences in and out of class, but also a constant questioning of their representations, students will thus be encouraged to develop, in addition to their linguistic and cultural skills, their critical thinking and to better understand contemporary issues.

PHOTOGRAPHIE ET LE CINEMA (FR2450)

This course will explore the bridges between photographic imagery and cinematographic imagery. This course will focus on contemporary artists (Cindy Sherman, Sophie Calle, Jeff Wall, Gregory Crewdson, etc.) whose hybrid works deconstruct the real and dissolve identity. We will also focus on how the cinematographic eye converges with and complements the photographic eye. Conducted in French, this course combines critical analysis and practice (production of films and photographs). Prerequisites: 1000-level course (preferably in Film Studies, French Studies, Communications, or Art History). Satisfies FrenchBridge requirement.