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2014/15 Undergraduate Module Catalogue
FREN3815 The Occupation in French Fiction and Film
20 creditsClass Size: 12
Module manager: Professor Atack
Email: m.k.atack@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable
Year running 2014/15
Pre-requisite qualifications
Ability to study a module taught in French, usually evidenced by having successfully completed level 2 of a degree programme including French.This module is approved as a discovery module
Module summary
This course studies the conflicts and controversies of the Second world War in France through some of the famous writings and films which have made their mark as key texts in the complex and controversial debate over the meaning of the war years for the French since 1940. It is taught and examined in French.Objectives
The aim of this course is to study in detail some of the famous writings and films which have made their mark as key texts in the complex and controversial debate over the meaning of the war years for the French; to offer a grounding in the literature of the Occupation period, in the role and function of literature and films of and about the Second World War, with particular attention to the Resistance and to the renewal of the debate with la mode rétro; to further knowledge of the culture and intellectual history of France in the contemporary period.The seminars will require students' active participation, through small group and whole group discussion, exposé presentations etc. Seminars will be held in French. This module arises directly from the tutor's own research.
Learning outcomes
Students should have specialist knowledge of important issues such as the historical meaning of the Occupation, questions of gender, politics and memory in the creation of national identities, and the role of literature and culture in these processes, and should be able to evaluate a variety of texts critically in the light of this knowledge.
Skills outcomes
On completion of this module students should have developed advanced level skills of cultural and historical analysis through broad secondary reading and close textual study.
Students should have further developed their advanced level written and oral skills in French in the.language of intellectual analysis, debate, and formal presentation.
- Analytical skills
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking
- Independent working
- Research skills
Syllabus
Texts for detailed study:
Seminar discussions will focus on detailed analysis of seven texts – films, novels, short stories - taken from the Resistance period to the present day. They will be chosen to enable students to identify key themes at particular periods.
Programme of study:
The programme will follow a chronological order, studying first the writings of the Resistance, covering aspects such as representations of the enemy, political and national motivations for Resistance activity, and everyday life under the occupation, and then the post-war representations of these themes, and the ways in which they change and become entwined with other contemporary preoccupations. Representations of history, memory and the relation between past behaviours and current preoccupations become increasingly important in the texts from recent decades.
Teaching methods
Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
Lecture | 9 | 1.00 | 9.00 |
Seminar | 1 | 2.00 | 2.00 |
Seminar | 9 | 1.00 | 9.00 |
Private study hours | 180.00 | ||
Total Contact hours | 20.00 | ||
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 200.00 |
Private study
Students will need to read/view all the texts on the syllabus, as well as a selection of secondary texts (historical and critical) from the reading list. They will devote time to preparing seminar themes each week, and will make a formal presentation at the final two-hour seminar. They will research and write a dissertation.Seminar preparation: 50 hours
Seminar presentation: 15 hours
Essay preparation (research and writing): 115 hours
Opportunities for Formative Feedback
For the dissertation, there will be individual consultations on the student¿s choice of topic, and written feedback on the draft plan. For the examination, there will be group discussion of sample questions, and the opportunity to submit draft exam answer plans for written feedback. Written comments will be given on the student presentations, handed in at the end of the relevant seminar.Methods of assessment
Coursework
Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
Essay | 3,000 words | 50.00 |
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 50.00 |
Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated
Exams
Exam type | Exam duration | % of formal assessment |
Standard exam (closed essays, MCQs etc) | 2 hr | 50.00 |
Total percentage (Assessment Exams) | 50.00 |
Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated
Reading list
The reading list is available from the Library websiteLast updated: 25/03/2015
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