Module and Programme Catalogue

Search site

Find information on

2017/18 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

FREN2190 The Age of Extremes: Culture, Crisis and Commitment between the Wars

20 creditsClass Size: 16

Module manager: Claire Lozier / Matthew John
Email: c.a.lozier@leeds.ac.uk / m.g.john@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2017/18

Pre-requisite qualifications

Satisfactory completion of Level 1 French or equivalent

This module is mutually exclusive with

FREN2195The Age of Extremes: Culture, Crisis and Commitment between

Module replaces

FREN2191/2192

This module is approved as a discovery module

Module summary

The inter-war period was an era of extremes in culture and politics. Revolutionary techniques in the visual arts, literature and music, commonly known as the avant-garde movement of modernism, challenged the orthodoxies of realism. On the political and ideological levels, bourgeois democracy was challenged by the extremes of communism and fascism. This module deals with both cultural and political extremes. It approaches both through the media of text and film to demonstrate how writers and intellectuals responded to the historical and ideological extremes of the period. In the first half of the module we deal with the revolutionary formal techniques of modernism, including surrealism, to show how art challenged conventional concepts of time, space and identity. The second part of the module will deal with texts and film which show how bourgeois democracy and values are increasingly under attack from proponents of communism and fascism. We will see how, during the 1930s, intellectuals of both extremes use art to explore the crisis of western civilisation and the desire for the construction of a new order. Pre-requisite: Completion of Level 1 French course or equivalent at the discretion of the Course Director

Objectives

On completion of this module, students should be able to:

- Analyse various forms of cultural expression and explore the ways in which they relate to the social, economic and political realities from which they emerged
- Examine the ways in which writers and intellectuals responded to the historical and ideological extremes of the period.
- Relate the major cultural developments of the inter-war period in France to the contemporaneous political and social developments in France and Europe
- Read, discuss and write about challenging examples of avant-garde and politically committed discourse in the light of their understanding of wider historical and cultural developments

Syllabus

The inter-war period was an era of extremes in culture and politics. Revolutionary techniques in the visual arts, literature and music, commonly known as the avant-garde movement of modernism, challenged the orthodoxies of realism. On the political and ideological levels, bourgeois democracy was challenged by the extremes of communism and fascism. This module approaches culture and politics through the media of text and film to demonstrate how writers and intellectuals responded to the historical and ideological extremes of the period. We deal firstly with the revolutionary formal techniques of modernism and then consider surrealism. The second part of the module deals with texts and film which show how art becomes increasingly politicised in the inter-war period. We will see how, during the 1930s, intellectuals of both extremes use art to explore the crisis of western civilisation and the desire for the creation of a new 'Man' and a new order.

Teaching methods

Delivery typeNumberLength hoursStudent hours
Lecture201.0020.00
Seminar101.0010.00
Private study hours170.00
Total Contact hours30.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)200.00

Private study

50 hours background reading for lectures and seminars;
90 hours preparation for seminar presentations;
15 hours researching for essay;
15 hours revision for exam

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Progress is discussed in the seminars and there are opportunities to submit unassessed essays.

Methods of assessment


Coursework
Assessment typeNotes% of formal assessment
Essay2,500 words (in English)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 typeExam duration% of formal assessment
Standard exam (closed essays, MCQs etc)2 hr 00 mins50.00
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 website

Last updated: 02/03/2018 17:22:50

Disclaimer

Browse Other Catalogues

Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team.PROD

© Copyright Leeds 2019