KIIS France I 2007 Syllabus FRE 323

COURSE NUMBER FRE 323 CREDIT HOURS 3

INSTRUCTOR Dr Dorothy Carter, Eastern Kentucky University

(859) 622-1002

I. Title: French Culture and Civilization: L’Esprit classique en France. This course is for students who have successfully completed courses at the intermediate level in French language, or who has equivalent proficiency. Classes are taught in French; quizzes are given in French; the term paper at the end of the course will be written in French.

II. Catalog Description: A study of the contributions to French civilization of the Classical tradition, which has been central to that tradition since the beginning of the Gallo-Roman period, and which has been transmitted to other cultures in part through French arts and attitudes. Against a historical background from prehistoric times through the Empire of Napoléon I, the students will learn about the various permutations of Classicism in art, architecture, music and literature, as well as Classical influences on the French national character. Classes conducted in French.

III.  Purpose: This course is designed to acquaint the student with the cultural history of France from the beginnings to 1815, to give the student a deeper understanding of the characteristics and importance of the classical spirit, and to extend and deepen his/her mastery of spoken and written French.

IV.  Course Objectives:

v  The students will demonstrate a general knowledge of the historical and cultural framework of the French people in the periods covered

v  The students will demonstrate knowledge of the characteristics of Classicism in several cultural areas, understanding of the mindset and aspirations of the people who created the works, and some concept of the relevance of Classicism in their own cultures with special reference to the influence of the French.

v  The students will increase their French vocabulary through discussion and reading; they will become more accurate in their use of language structures both in oral and written work.

V.  Course Outline (subject to adjustment when necessary):

Week One:

Day 1: La France avant l’arrivée des romains; qui étaient les romains?

Day 2: La Civilisation gallo-romaine; les principes du classicisme

Day 3: Field Trip: Le Grand Louvre

Week Two:

Day 1: Le Moyen Âge: du romanesque au gothique

Day 2: La Renaissance et la redécouverte du classique

Day 3: Field Trip: Divers bâtiments de Paris.

Week Three:

Day 1: Le baroque et le néo-classicisme (littérature, musique, art,

architecture).

Day 2: Le classicisme des 17e et 18e siècles

Day 3: Field Trip: Versailles

Week Four:

Day 1: Le théâtre classique du 17e et l’art classique du 18e

Day 2: La Révolution française et le classicisme: symbole et propagande

Day 3: Field Trip: Le Musée Carnavalet et la Conciergerie

Week Five:

Day 1: Napoléon, empereur «romain»; l’art de Jacques-Louis David

Day 2: Short field trip to les Invalides et la Madeleine

Day 3: Présentation et discussion des rédactions en classe

Short field trip: TBA

VI.  Instructional Activities: lectures, in-class discussions, visits to sites (during which the discussions and lectures will continue), on-site research, quizzes, term paper.

VII.  Field Experiences: There will be one major field trip per week, each one relating to that week’s in-class material and each one absolutely mandatory.

VIII. Grading Procedures: Grading will be done on the basis of class participation, five short quizzes beginning with day 2, and a term paper on various aspects of classicism, including their own assessments of it and reactions to it. This paper will be written in French; it will be turned in the last day of class, during which we will share some of our discoveries and opinions.

Grading scale: five quizzes, 20 points each (100 points); class participation, 100 points), term paper 200 points (graded on content and on accuracy and appropriateness of the French). Total: 400 points possible. 90-100%=A; 80-89%=B; 70-79%=C; 60-69%=D; Below 60%=F.

IX.  Attendance Policy: Students will attend every class session and field trip. Exceptions will only be made in case of illness verified by the program director.

X.  Texts: The main “text” will be a packet of materials that I will mail to each student enrolled. There will be extras on-site for students who wish to add this course. In addition, each student must have the latest edition of the Michelin Guide Vert (IN FRENCH) for Paris.