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CS92PROD
Going South: "Le Sud" and Its Representations in French Literature and Culture
FREN 236
Spring 2017 not offered

The course explores representations of "le Sud" across media, from myths and legends to songs, literature, film, and television. We will learn the origins of Provençal identity and how its portrayal has evolved over time. We will gain a greater knowledge of the many artists and thinkers who have been drawn to the South. Eventually, we will work out a new definition of "le Sud," from Provence to one that includes other Souths such as the global South represented by immigrants from former French colonies.

Although a geographical denomination, a cardinal point, "le Sud" is a contradictory and moving space. The French anthem was first sung on one of Marseille's streets (rue Thubaneau), and the city remains a cosmopolitan port, open to migrations. The 2005 riots did not affect Marseille, yet the first elected mayors from the far-right Front National were in Orange, Toulon, and Vitrolles. The South remains a place of light and sun that attracted numerous painters and a place of dark and shady business run by local and international mafias. How have these contradictions shaped "le Sud" as territory, community, and idea, and how do they function within definitions of French identity?
Credit: 1 Gen Ed Area Dept: HA RLAN
Course Format: Lecture / DiscussionGrading Mode: Graded
Level: UGRD Prerequisites: None
Fulfills a Major Requirement for: (FRST-MN)(FRST)(RMST)

Last Updated on MAR-28-2024
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