European and Extra-European Francophone Cultures I
A.Y. 2025/2026
Learning objectives
Attraverso un approccio transdisciplinare, il corso si propone di fornire ai/alle discenti una conoscenza approfondita delle pratiche culturali che si sono sviluppate nelle principali aree geografiche che si esprimono, per ragioni storico-politiche, in lingua francese. A tal fine, il corso verrà erogato in lingua francese e la metodologia prevede il ricorso a diversi supporti (testi letterari, testi critici, immagini, video, documentari, strumenti di IA) che, messi a confronto, permetteranno ai/alle discenti di comprendere le dinamiche culturali e transculturali in atto nel mondo francese e francofono, con particolare attenzione all'ambito della comunicazione, della mediazione e della cooperazione internazionale.
Expected learning outcomes
La capacità, attraverso strumenti critici e metodologici specifici (fra cui l'uso di LLM, Large Language Models), di comprendere, analizzare e mettere a confronto i diversi sistemi culturali, le dinamiche socio-antropologiche di relazione (con attenzione alle tematiche dell'inclusione), i rapporti interculturali e transculturali, i bias culturali e i modelli comunicativi intermediali. Nello specifico, si intende permettere ai/alle discenti di avere una visione più ampia possibile delle diversità che compongono le società contemporanee di lingua francese e di sviluppare possibili risposte alle problematiche che si presenteranno nel corso di tale indagine.
Lesson period: First semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course cannot be attended as a single course. Please check our list of single courses to find the ones available for enrolment.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
First semester
Course syllabus
TITLE: Ecology and resistance. Environmental imaginaries in the face of modernity in France and the French-speaking world (XXᵉ-XXIᵉ centuries)
Aim: To explore the intersections between literature, ecology and globalisation through literary texts and comics using an ecocritical approach.
This theme brings together ecological issues, postcolonial criticism and media representations, encouraging a cross-disciplinary reading of France and the French-speaking world.
Module 1: French literature - Technological conquest and ecological crises (20h)
Context: Modernisation, urbanisation and environmental criticism in contemporary France.
Literary texts :
1. Maylis de Kerangal, Naissance d'un pont (2010) , Paris, Gallimard, coll. Folio (also KINDLE)
2. Étienne Mauvigner, Le Tour du monde (2016), Paris, Minuit ddouble (also KINDLE)
Text review:
A. Ghosh, La grande cecità, NeriPozza, 2017 (or in English v.o.)
Module 2: Francophone literatures - Resource exploitation and resistance (20h)
Context: Postcolonialism, extractivism and climate justice in the Francophone space.
Literary texts:
1. In Koli Jean Bofane, Congo Inc. Le testament de Bismarck (2016), Paris, Babel (also KINDLE)
2. LAFERRIÈRE, Dany, Tout bouge autour de moi (2011), Paris, Grasset & Fasquelle, Le Livre de Poche (also KINDLE)
Critical text:
Zones à dire. Pour une écopoétique transculturelle. Dossier coordonné par Le Collectif ZoneZadir · Littérature 2021/1 N° 201. Armand Colin : en libre accès : https://zonezadir.hypotheses.org/dossier-ecopoetique-transculturelle.
Module 3: Cultural mediation - 'Artivism' and ecology
Context: Comics, exhibitions and new media as tools for raising awareness of environmental issues.
Materials:
1. Comic: BRÉTÉCHER, Claire, Les amours écologiques du Bolot occidental, Dargaud Bénélux, 2007 (3rd ed.), [1977], 60 pages. KINDLE version:
2. Exhibition: Plastique Mer* (Mucem, 2024): https://www.mucem.org/evenement/un-grand-musee-bleu/
3. Podcast on the ecological theme by Radio France Internationale: https://www.rfi.fr/fr/tag/environnement/
Aim: To explore the intersections between literature, ecology and globalisation through literary texts and comics using an ecocritical approach.
This theme brings together ecological issues, postcolonial criticism and media representations, encouraging a cross-disciplinary reading of France and the French-speaking world.
Module 1: French literature - Technological conquest and ecological crises (20h)
Context: Modernisation, urbanisation and environmental criticism in contemporary France.
Literary texts :
1. Maylis de Kerangal, Naissance d'un pont (2010) , Paris, Gallimard, coll. Folio (also KINDLE)
2. Étienne Mauvigner, Le Tour du monde (2016), Paris, Minuit ddouble (also KINDLE)
Text review:
A. Ghosh, La grande cecità, NeriPozza, 2017 (or in English v.o.)
Module 2: Francophone literatures - Resource exploitation and resistance (20h)
Context: Postcolonialism, extractivism and climate justice in the Francophone space.
Literary texts:
1. In Koli Jean Bofane, Congo Inc. Le testament de Bismarck (2016), Paris, Babel (also KINDLE)
2. LAFERRIÈRE, Dany, Tout bouge autour de moi (2011), Paris, Grasset & Fasquelle, Le Livre de Poche (also KINDLE)
Critical text:
Zones à dire. Pour une écopoétique transculturelle. Dossier coordonné par Le Collectif ZoneZadir · Littérature 2021/1 N° 201. Armand Colin : en libre accès : https://zonezadir.hypotheses.org/dossier-ecopoetique-transculturelle.
Module 3: Cultural mediation - 'Artivism' and ecology
Context: Comics, exhibitions and new media as tools for raising awareness of environmental issues.
Materials:
1. Comic: BRÉTÉCHER, Claire, Les amours écologiques du Bolot occidental, Dargaud Bénélux, 2007 (3rd ed.), [1977], 60 pages. KINDLE version:
2. Exhibition: Plastique Mer* (Mucem, 2024): https://www.mucem.org/evenement/un-grand-musee-bleu/
3. Podcast on the ecological theme by Radio France Internationale: https://www.rfi.fr/fr/tag/environnement/
Prerequisites for admission
Knowledge of the French language is mandatory. A general knowledge of XXth century history and the ability to grasp specific cultural themes and motifs through critical analysis tools is required.
Teaching methods
The course will not only be face-to-face but will also have a seminar-style interaction with learners.
Teaching Resources
Module 1:
Literary texts :
1. Maylis de Kerangal, Naissance d'un pont (2010) , Paris, Gallimard, coll. Folio (also KINDLE)
2. Étienne Mauvigner, Le Tour du monde (2016), Paris, Minuit double (also KINDLE)
Critical text:
A. Ghosh, La grande cecità, NeriPozza, 2017 (or in English v.o.)
Module 2:
Literary texts:
1. In Koli Jean Bofane, Congo Inc. Le testament de Bismarck (2016), Paris, Babel (also KINDLE)
2. LAFERRIÈRE, Dany, Tout bouge autour de moi (2011), Paris, Grasset & Fasquelle, Le Livre de Poche (also KINDLE)
Critical text:
Zones à dire. For a transcultural ecopoetics. Dossier coordinated by Le Collectif ZoneZadir - Littérature 2021/1 N° 201. Armand Colin: open access: https://zonezadir.hypotheses.org/dossier-ecopoetique-transculturelle.
Module 3:
1. BD: BRÉTÉCHER, Claire, Les amours écologiques du Bolot occidental, Dargaud Bénélux, 2007 (3rd ed.), [1977], 60 pages. KINDLE version:
2. Exhibition: Plastique Mer* (Mucem, 2024): https://www.mucem.org/evenement/un-grand-musee-bleu/
3. Podcast on the ecological theme by Radio France Internationale: https://www.rfi.fr/fr/tag/environnement/
Literary texts :
1. Maylis de Kerangal, Naissance d'un pont (2010) , Paris, Gallimard, coll. Folio (also KINDLE)
2. Étienne Mauvigner, Le Tour du monde (2016), Paris, Minuit double (also KINDLE)
Critical text:
A. Ghosh, La grande cecità, NeriPozza, 2017 (or in English v.o.)
Module 2:
Literary texts:
1. In Koli Jean Bofane, Congo Inc. Le testament de Bismarck (2016), Paris, Babel (also KINDLE)
2. LAFERRIÈRE, Dany, Tout bouge autour de moi (2011), Paris, Grasset & Fasquelle, Le Livre de Poche (also KINDLE)
Critical text:
Zones à dire. For a transcultural ecopoetics. Dossier coordinated by Le Collectif ZoneZadir - Littérature 2021/1 N° 201. Armand Colin: open access: https://zonezadir.hypotheses.org/dossier-ecopoetique-transculturelle.
Module 3:
1. BD: BRÉTÉCHER, Claire, Les amours écologiques du Bolot occidental, Dargaud Bénélux, 2007 (3rd ed.), [1977], 60 pages. KINDLE version:
2. Exhibition: Plastique Mer* (Mucem, 2024): https://www.mucem.org/evenement/un-grand-musee-bleu/
3. Podcast on the ecological theme by Radio France Internationale: https://www.rfi.fr/fr/tag/environnement/
Assessment methods and Criteria
The examination will be oral, in French, and consists of an interview to test the skills and knowledge acquired. Group activities are planned in the third module.
Professor(s)