FREN 3240

French Classics

Course Description

Course information provided by the Courses of Study 2023-2024.

This course will introduce students to some of the highlights of France's contributions throughout its long history in art, architcture, music, philosophy, political theory and literature to Western civilization.  We will consider works from the Middle Ages to the Revolution.  We will read texts from epic poems of the medieval period and study romanesque and gothic architecture.  The imposition of absolute monarchy will lead to discussion of Classicism idealized drama and painting.  Finally, we will introduce the important French thinkers of the Enlightenment whose political theories were in large part adopted by the farmers of the U. S. Constitution.  All this while keeping in mind Walter Benjamin's remarks on the often hidden cost of the great contributions of Western civilization."There is no document of civilization that is not at the same time a document of barbarism."  What and who was sacrificed in order to create French civilization?

When Offered Fall.

Distribution Category (ALC-AS, CA-AS, HST-AS)

Comments Conducted in English.

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