Interpreting the "New World": France and the Early Modern Americas
FREN 324
Fall 2017
| Section:
01
|
| Crosslisting:
FGSS 324, COL 324 |
The impact and long-lasting effects of the "discovery" of the "New World" on Europeans cannot be overestimated. This advanced seminar will compare and contrast styles of expedition and conquest among the European nations, though the course will focus on the French context and the various events and encounters that occurred in the early modern Americas, particularly between 1492 and 1610, a period that laid the groundwork for the subsequent colonial project. Throughout the course, we will pay special attention to the Amerindians' points of view. In turn, students will examine the insights and blind spots in 16th-century French navigators', cosmographers', cartographers', and intellectuals' interpretations, representations, and negotiations of difference by critically engaging with concepts such as nature, culture, alterity, gender, sexuality, marriage, religion, exchange, possession, conquest, and war. Reading, writing, and class discussions will be in French. |
|
| Credit: 1 |
Gen Ed Area Dept:
HA RLAN |
| Course Format: Lecture / Discussion | Grading Mode: Graded |
| Level: UGRD |
Prerequisites: None |
|
Fulfills a Requirement for: (FRST-MN)(FRST) |
|
Past Enrollment Probability: 75% - 89% |
| SECTION 01 |
Major Readings: Wesleyan RJ Julia Bookstore
(Indicative readings, mostly available on Moodle):
Jacques Cartier, RELATIONS
Jean de Léry, HISTOIRE D'UN VOYAGE EN TERRE DE BRESIL
Jacques Du Hamel, ACOUBAR, OU LA LOYAUTE TRAHIE
Michel de Montaigne, ESSAIS
Marguerite de Navarre, HEPTAMERON
Jean Parmentier, CHANTS ROYAUX
Antoine du Périer, LES AMOURS DE PISTION ET DE FORTUNIE
François Rabelais, QUART LIVRE
André Thevet, LA COSMOGRAPHIE UNIVERSELLE
Film: BLACK ROBE
Secondary readings by Michel de Certeau, Anthony Grafton, Julia Kristeva, Frank Lestringant, Olive Dickason, Tzvetan Todorov, Michael Wintroub, and others.
|
Examinations and Assignments:
Students will post/share weekly reaction papers on Moodle, write several short papers followed by one-on-one tutorials, give an oral presentation, and complete a final research paper. Besides the assigned primary and secondary readings, we will also visit Olin's Special Collections and the Davison Art Center to consult maps and other iconographic materials. |
Additional Requirements and/or Comments:
While any student who has completed FREN 215 (with a minimum grade of B) or has placed out of FREN 215 through the placement test may sign up for this course, it is an advanced course intended for students who have already taken two courses in French beyond FREN 215 or already studied abroad in a French-speaking country. Readings, written assignments and class discussions will be in French. Only COL students my take this course CR/U. All others must take it for a letter grade. Students who are not admitted to the course through pre-registration are strongly encouraged to submit an enrollment request and attend the first class. |
| Instructor(s): Meere,Michael Times: ..T.R.. 02:50PM-04:10PM; Location: FISK312; |
| Total Enrollment Limit: 18 | | SR major: 10 | JR major: 6 | | |
| Seats Available: 11 | GRAD: X | SR non-major: 0 | JR non-major: 0 | SO: 2 | FR: 0 |
| Drop/Add Enrollment Requests | | | | | |
| Total Submitted Requests: 1 | 1st Ranked: 0 | 2nd Ranked: 0 | 3rd Ranked: 0 | 4th Ranked: 1 | Unranked: 0 |
|
|