FREN 4070

Madness Narratives and Pop Culture in 21st Century

Course Description

Course information provided by the Courses of Study 2020-2021.

Madness fascinates, mental illness frightens. They are realms of scholarship as well as objects of practical knowledge and representation for the arts and the social actors themselves. This seminar aims to explore the ways in which people who are affected by psychological disorders and strive to face them, are depicted in the 20th and 21st century popular culture. What relationship exists between the medical understanding of these disorders and their portrayals in literature, recovery narratives, cinema, TV series and documentaries? Do contemporary pictures of madness in fiction contribute to demystify and destigmatize mental illness, or do they reinforce negative stereotypes? Are there differences between French fictions and American ones? This seminar will examine each oeuvre as a case study with the resources of critical studies.

When Offered Spring.

Prerequisites/Corequisites Prerequisite: proficiency in French.

Distribution Category (KCM-AS, ETM-AS)
Language Requirement Satisfies Option 1.

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