French 430
Oral Traditions: Language as Performance Art
Printemps 2021
D. Kress
Heures de bureau : 2:30-3:30, lundi et mercredi
Until the French Revolution French was primarily an oral phenomenon and written forms of literature existed much like musical notation today—as a guide to performers that would convey it to a public who could not read. This course focuses on listening to French as a performance art from the Medieval French lai to the modern rock opera and will sharpen your ability to understand spoken French. You should expect to spend the majority of your time listening to these works rather than reading, as is more common in courses devoted to literature. Use the written texts as a support rather than as a crutch. In this course you will need to listen actively because you will be expected to understand the oral material and be able to show you understand it through classroom discussion and quizzes.
Policies
*All classroom discussion will be conducted in French. If you have difficulty asking questions in class, formulate them at home. Be ready with questions when I call on you! I will give you a grade for class participation every day and I expect for you to contribute aggressively. Your questions or comments should reflect the work and thought that you have put into the day’s assignment and should show that you have made an effort to listen to and understand the material.
* This course contains a production component which consists of an original story, poem, or song that you will present oraly on Youtube. This work must be available online by the scheduled final exam time for this class. Length:7 minutes minimum.
*Oral presentations. Each student will choose two of the authors we are reading in class and will give significant presentations (7-10 minutes) in French on those writers. You are advised to practice your reports out loud before coming to class. Grammar mistakes, reports that are too short, and weak presentations will all have very negative impacts on your grade.
*Papers. This couse will have two analytical papers--the first will be an explication de texte, based on a poem you will be assigned; the second will be an psychological analysis of Phèdre. Count on writing about a page of French each week. After the first couple of weeks there will be specific prompts to teach you how to write critical papers.
* N.B. Attendance. This is an upper-division course for students who attain to the highest levels of competence. Accordingly, absences and tardiness will have serious consequences on your grade. Two points will be subtracted from your final average for every unexcused absence. A half point will be subtracted for students who arrive after the class begins. Excused absences are those cleared in advance or due to an illness which requires medical care.
4. Your grade in this class will be given as follows:
Oral Presentation(s) 20%
Two Papers 20%
Quizzes 20% (N.B. Three low/missing grades on quizzes can be made up by attending French Table)
Final story (production element) 20%
Three memorized poems 20%
The use of cell phones or any electronic media device is not allowed during this class. Unauthorized use of such devices during a quiz or exam will constitute an honor code violation and will be reported to the honor court.
Services to Students with Disabilities:
It is the policy of Centenary College to accommodate students with disabilities pursuant to federal and state law and our commitment to equal educational opportunities. Students seeking support services/accommodations for a disability must first register with Disability Services (a division of the Counseling Center, 318-869-5466/5424, located on the ground floor of Rotary Hall) and should begin this process as early as possible. Students with accommodations approved through Disability Services are responsible for contacting the faculty member in charge of the course prior to or during the first days of the term to discuss needed accommodations. We will gladly make appropriate accommodations based on disability to ensure the playing field is and remains level for all students.
(https://www.centenary.edu/student-life/support-services/disability-services/eligibility-for-services/)
College Diversity Statement Centenary College of Louisiana values human diversity in all its richly complex and multi-faceted forms, whether expressed through race and ethnicity, culture, political and social views, religious and spiritual beliefs, language and geographic characteristics, gender, gender identities and sexual orientations, learning and physical abilities, age, and social or economic classes.
Textes:
Phèdre, Jean Racine. I have enough copies of this work for everyone in the class.
All other texts for this class will be listened to/read online. See the links below. For the longer works, if you had rather read a print copy, you are encouraged to purchase or find online a French language edition of any of the works listed on the syllabus:
EMPLOI
DU TEMPS: SEMESTRE D'AUTOMNE
I. Semaine du 10 au 14 janvier
II. Semaine du 17 au 21 janvier
III. Semaine du 24 au 28 janvier
IV. Semaine du 31 janvier au 4 février
V. Semaine du 7 au 11 février
VI. Semaine du 14 au 18 février
VII. Semaine du 21 au 25 février
VIII.
Semaine du 28 février au 4 mars Mardi Gras!
| lundi: |
Mardi Gras |
| mercredi: |
Mardi Gras |
| film |
Mardi Gras |
IX. Semaine du 7 au 11 mars.
X. Semaine du 14 au 18 mars
XI. Semaine du 21 au 25 mars
XII. Semaine du 28 mars au 1er avril
XIII. Semaine du 4 au 8 avril
XIV. Semaine du 11 au 15 avril
XV. Semaine du 18 au 22 avril
XVI. Semaine du 25 au 29 avril
Vendredi le 29 avril est le dernier jour de classes ! |
