Listed in: French, as FREN-356
Raphael Sigal (Section 01)
The coincidence of the “I” and the self might seem redundant, even self-evident. But, in the twentieth century, the very act of writing one’s life, of writing about the self, is often the starting point of a quest that brings authors to express conflicted, paradoxical, even violent ideas about themselves and the world. Whether they aim at revealing the naked truth about their life, or on the contrary attempt to conceal it, they use literature as a repository for their experience, as well as an echo chamber of their convoluted thought. Confronted with such texts, we, the readers, may react with puzzlement or skepticism, rejection or envy. In other words, reading a writer telling about her or his experiences engages our own selves. This class will be the occasion to examine how we read when faced with the “I” of the other. Primary readings may include texts by Antonin Artaud, Michel Leiris, Georges Perec, Roland Barthes, Colette Fellous, and Maryse Condé. Secondary readings may include texts by Michel de Montaigne, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Martin Buber, and Marguerite Duras. Students will engage with the material in three steps: writing a reading journal; presenting their work-in-progress in class or during a symposium organized during the semester; writing a final essay. Conducted in French.
In addition to books and articles, we will make extensive use of video and audio material. Classes will all be synchronous and divided between lecture and small groups discussions.
Requisite: One of the following--FREN 207, 208, or equivalent. Fall semester. Professor Sigal.
Section 01
Tu 10:10 AM - 11:30 AM ONLI ONLI
Th 10:10 AM - 11:30 AM ONLI ONLI
This is preliminary information about books for this course. Please contact your instructor or the Academic Coordinator for the department, before attempting to purchase these books.
| ISBN | Title | Publisher | Author(s) | Comment | Book Store | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| L' Age d'homme | Folio | Michel Leiris | Amherst Books | TBD | ||
| Un homme qui dort | Folio | Georges Perec | Amherst Books | TBD | ||
| Journal de deuil | Points Seuil, edition 2016 | Roland Barthes | Amherst Books | TBD | ||
| La vie sans fards | Maryse Conde | Amherst Books | TBD |
These books are available locally at Amherst Books.