The other French literature

I am going to teach a 3 credit class Upper Division class  in Winter 2016 about French/francophone comic books and graphic novels. The class will be on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 12.30 to 1.50.  You are normally required to have completed FR 301 as a prerequisite to sign up for it, but if you took/ are taking second year French , have a good level in French and are motivated, come and talk to me, I can sign you up for the class. This class would count toward a French minor.

FR 340D: Topics in French Arts and Culture/  (3 cr) (professeur: M. Ival)

The other French literature: Comic Books and Graphic Novels

We will read a complete Tintin comic book and several excerpts in various genres from kids’ comics to adults’ graphic novels to editorial cartoons and more.  We will come back on the shocking murders of the Charlie Hebdo cartoonists last January in Paris and  try to put it in context.   Does Freedom of expression mean that you can say anything?  Is it OK to make fun of religion?  Is censorship ever good?  What do these murders tell you about French society?   More lightly, we will also watch comic book heroes on the big screen, discuss Captain Haddock swear words, study America from the European comics point of view and debate who would win an Astérix vs Superman duel.

homework: homework will alternate between presenting a comic book/graphic novel to the other students, and answer comprehension questions about various comic book extracts and a complete tintin story.

Tests: there will be no test during the term, but each week I will post several questions you should be able to answer by the end of that week, that will cover information we covered in class, so you can make sure that you’re following the class.  Some of these questions will be in the final exam.  There will also be a dissertation on a subject you can choose, and an oral exam: either create your own comic book page and present it to the students, or play a scene from a comic book we studied, as if it was a scene from a play.

Send me an email or come to see me if you have any questions.