Overview

This module approaches the study of contemporary France through a postcolonial lens. On the module, you will study a range of cultural practices and narrative forms, on topics such as the legacies of the French Empire, French internal colonization, and contemporary manifestations of French republican identity.

Primary sources and module content will cover a variety of Francophone postcolonial contexts, including metropolitan France, but also the Francophone Caribbean and North and sub-Saharan Africa. The close associations between postcolonial and ecological issues will be explored on the module as well.

Topics may include:

The French Overseas Empire and its legacies Evolving definitions of French republicanism Postcolonial Brittany Decolonial ecology in the French Caribbean French literature and film Sport and national identity in France Rap music and identity in France 21st-century French comedy, race and identity

Assessment Strategy

-threshold -D- - D+: Students demonstrate a basic understanding of the key concepts and works studied in the module and are able to situate them in relation to debates about race and the history of immigration in France. Some awareness of critical thinking and engagement with secondary sources demonstrated via assessed work (see box 18).

-good -C- - B+: Students demonstrate a firm grasp of the key concepts and works studied in the module and are able to situate them in relation to debates about race and the history of immigration in France. Good awareness of critical thinking and engagement with secondary sources, and independent analysis demonstrated via assessed work (see box 18).

-excellent -A- - A*: Students obtaining the highest grades will have provided highly insightful and innovative responses to questions addressed via assessed work. This will involve demonstrating an excellent grasp of the key concepts and works studied in the module and the ability to situate them in relation to debates about race and the history of immigration in France. This will be enhanced by an impressive awareness of critical thinking and engagement with a wide range of appropriate second sources, and independent analysis demonstrated via assessed work

Learning Outcomes

• To analyse in significant detail primary sources with regard to their broad themes, and socio-cultural and historical context

• To critically assess the significance of cultural practices and forms of representation, demonstrating specific knowledge about the contexts in which these practices and forms were produced (considering in particular issues of power, identity, colonialism and historical migratory movements)

• To evaluate critical approaches to how colonialism and its legacies have been represented and memorialised in contemporary France.

• To explain and summarise verbally the material and themes under consideration, demonstrating an awareness of the intercultural sensitivity required for a successful understanding of the issues raised by the module