The course provides an historical-cultural and political framework of French society from the belle époque to the present day. This will be followed by a geographical crossing of the various Parisian arrondissements: cultural themes will be explored (from architecture to literature, from cinema to gastronomy) in order to discover the myth of Paris in the contemporary imagination. At the end of the course, students will have acquired knowledge relating to French culture and its main protagonists, developing theoretical-critical skills on the proposed topics. Students are asked to actively participate in the lessons, choosing a specific topic of the macro-areas in the program and deepening it through individual or group work that will be agreed with the teacher and presented in class. Movie viewing is also provided.

The first part of the course consists of an overview from a historical-cultural and political point of view of French society from the belle époque to the present day. The main stages of French cultural history will be distinguished and analyzed: the Belle époque; the period between the two wars, the France of the Occupation, the Trente glorieuses, contemporaneity (from Mitterand to Macron). This will be followed by a geographical, urban and architectural flânerie of the Paris of Baron Georges-Eugène Haussmann, to conclude on one of his most important works: La place de l'étoile, whose triumphal arch has become over time a monument to the republican memory, from Napoleon to Charles de Gaulle. Significant in this sense are Barbara's song Göttingen (1965), an international success in a Europe that is trying to reborn after the Franco-German agreement between De Gaulle and Adenauer and the novel by Nobel Prize-winning writer Patrick Modiano, La place de l'étoile (1968) which will allow us to talk about the shadows of the Paris of the Occupation and the resurgence of Jewish memory in post-war France. The "comédie à sketches" Paris vu par ... (1965) by Éric Rohmer (and in particular his short film La place de l'étoile) on which the season of the Nouvelle Vague ends, is part of a movement that made French cinema famous all over the world. Finally, space will be given to the relationship between Paris and the artists who have always lived, known and recreated the city through their works, focusing in particular on the latest project by Christo and Jeanne-Claude, L'arc de Triomphe empaquetté, which  will be realized posthumously and will be visible from 18 September to 3 October 2021. The last part of the course will continue "sous le signe de l'étoile": it will be dedicated to the “restos étoilés” and to the typical dishes of French cuisine, between innovation and tradition.

The course program may undergo some changes.

There are no prerequisites.

Knowledge and understanding of the contemporary French cultural landscape, in its historical-political, cultural, social and artistic dynamics.

Applying knowledge and understanding

Knowledge of the main analysis tools of "authentic" materials, such as photographs, advertisements and newspaper articles, but also of literary texts and films that mark and "institutionalize", for their artistic value and their social impact, history of French culture.

Autonomy of judgment (making judgments).

Ability to independently apply the acquired knowledge and to make connections

Ability to elaborate critical arguments and autonomous judgments

Ability to learn (learning skills).

Ability to autonomously read texts and "authentic materials"

Ability to acquire bibliographic and critical skills in one's field of study

Communication skills.

Ability to use the language of criticism

Ability to communicate the contents learned in a clear and coherent way to expert and non-expert interlocutors. The course is largely built in the classroom, through the interaction between teacher and students. Students will develop individual or group projects, which will be agreed with the teacher. These works will be partially developed during the lessons and presented in class.

The teaching material prepared by the lecturer in addition to recommended textbooks (such as for instance slides, lecture notes, exercises, bibliography) and communications from the lecturer specific to the course can be found inside the Moodle platform › blended.uniurb.it

Teaching

The course is largely built in the classroom, through the interaction between teacher and students. Students will develop individual or group projects, which will be agreed with the teacher. These works will be partially developed during the lessons and presented in class.

Attendance

Students are required to follow the lessons and to acquire the critical bibliography that will be deepened during the course. The acquired knowledge will be applied and integrated in the development of individual and group projects that will be partially carried forward also in the classroom.

Course books

Historical-cultural manuals

P. Varejka, Brève histoire de la capitale, Paris, Parigramme, 2000.

Readings

P. Modiano, La place de l'étoile, Paris, Gallimard, 1968 (excerpts).

Movie

E. Rohmer, Paris vu par (1965). 16 mm gonflé en 35, couleur, Montage: Jacqueline Raynal. Producteur associé: Patrick Bauchau. Sociétés de production: Les Films du Losange (Barbet Schroeder), Les Films du Cyprès, Durée: 1h35. Distribution: October 20, 1965.

Songs

Barbara, Göttingen, 1965.

Artwork

Christo et Jeanne-Claude, L’arc de triomphe empaquetté, artistic installation from 18 September to 3 October 2021.

Assessment

Detailed program for attending and non-attending students, precise bibliographic information and study materials will be provided at the beginning and during the course. The course is held in French. The final oral exam will be held in Italian or French.

Oral exam
The following skills will be assessed: completeness of knowledge, precision and clarity of presentation, expressive reading in French, mastery of the texts and topics addressed in class, as well as the ability to critically elaborate them. The originality and quality of the individual or group work carried out on the topics of the course will also be taken into account in the evaluation.

The examen consists of an entretien oral en italien et / ou en français. Les notes de cours font partie intégrante du matériel d'étude.

Oral exam to evaluate:

The ability to critically analyze and contextualize the proposed contents

The ability to establish relationships and logical links between the different topics studied

The ability to independently analyze an object of study

The ability to fluidly and consistently present arguments in French, using specific language

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.

Teaching

Non-attending students are required to contact the teacher at the beginning of the course or in any case well in advance of the exam date.

Course books

It is recommended to integrate the text: K. Labiausse, La France au XXe Siècle de 1914 à Nos Jours 25 Fiches, Paris, Ellipses Marketing, 2014, to the slides of the lectures, which will be uploaded to Moodle.

Assessment

Detailed program for attending and non-attending students, precise bibliographic information and study materials will be provided at the beginning and during the course. The course is held in French. The final oral exam will be held in Italian or French.

Oral exam
The following will be assessed: the completeness of knowledge, the precision and clarity of presentation, the expressive reading in French, the mastery of the texts and readings addressed in class, as well as the ability to develop a critical argument in this regard. The originality and quality of the individual or group work carried out on the topics of the course will also be taken into account in the evaluation.

Oral exam to evaluate:

The ability to critically analyze and contextualize the proposed contents

The ability to establish relationships and logical links between the different topics studied

The ability to independently analyze an object of study

The ability to fluidly and consistently present arguments in French, using specific language

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.