West African Literatures and Cultures in French
FREN 302
Fall 2023
| Section:
01
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| Course Cluster and Certificates: African Studies, African Studies Minor |
This course explores major texts in modern and contemporary Francophone African literature by delving into four major themes that traverse the recent cultural, literary, and political history of Francophone West Africa.
The course starts by investigating the relationships between orality and literature through the lens of often-intersecting debates around tradition and modernity; the focus will then shift to articulations of nation, liberation, and the promises of independence, war, and memory, and finally the ruptures and continuities of the post-colonial, neoliberal present.
By spending significant time with primary sources that span over a century of literary and cultural production from and about Francophone Africa, students will have a deep understanding of the urgencies animating writers wrestling with the weight of the colonial past, the violence of decolonization, the brightness of independence, and the uncertainty of the present. A thorough engagement with some of the most important authors of the 60 years--C. H. Kane, B. Diop, Y. Ouloguem, M. Condé, among others--will allow us to deep-dive into the possibilities of literary expression as well as questions of belonging, nation, and evolving ideas of "Africa." |
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| Credit: 1 |
Gen Ed Area Dept:
HA RLAN |
| Course Format: Seminar | Grading Mode: Graded |
| Level: UGRD |
Prerequisites: None |
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Fulfills a Requirement for: (AFST-MN)(FRST-MN)(FRST) |
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Past Enrollment Probability: 75% - 89% |
| SECTION 01 |
Major Readings: Wesleyan RJ Julia Bookstore
: A course pack will be provided for purchase and some documents will be available via Moodle.
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Examinations and Assignments:
Examinations And Assignments: In-class: 1-paragraph weekly written responses;
At home: two 3-page responses per semester with rewrites and one 6-page final paper
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Additional Requirements and/or Comments:
: 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. However, since it is at the 300-level, the French section especially encourages students who have taken one other class beyond 215 to sign up for the seminar. See the professor if you have questions. 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): Manfredini,Tommaso Times: .M.W... 02:50PM-04:10PM; Location: FISK209; |
| Total Enrollment Limit: 15 | | SR major: 10 | JR major: 3 | | |
| Seats Available: 5 | GRAD: X | SR non-major: 0 | JR non-major: 0 | SO: 1 | FR: 1 |
| Drop/Add Enrollment Requests | | | | | |
| Total Submitted Requests: 1 | 1st Ranked: 0 | 2nd Ranked: 0 | 3rd Ranked: 1 | 4th Ranked: 0 | Unranked: 0 |
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