FRNCH 3900 - French Popular Culture

What is ?pop? culture in a nation famous for its ?high? culture? This course goes beyond stereotypes, myths and cliches of a culture so often stereotyped to examine recent expressions of popular culture in France. Our multimedia inquiry will cross a number of areas of the French pop culture scene, including the web, media, TV, music, comics, film, literary culture, advertising, food, and will look at issues relating to childhood, schooling, politics, ethnicity, marriage, immigration, gender, the family, and much more. In addition to developing references essential to understanding France and the French people, engagement with the major questions of that country?s cultural life will help students to think about how to ?do? cultural studies in a general sense and how to think about cross-cultural encounters (and especially their own). Toward this goal, we will routinely engage in cross-cultural comparison (including comparing French films to their American remakes). The course is taught in English, and all lectures, discussions, readings and films will be in English. Does not fulfill BA language requirement.