FREN2008 Post-War French Thought
Module Overview
This unit provides an introduction to the study of French post-war French thought and society.
Aims and Objectives
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge and Understanding
Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:
- post-war French thought and society
- the key concepts deployed by Beauvoir, Barthes and Fanon
Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- demonstrate your critical and analytical skills by responding to questions about the validity and relevance of the ideas set out in the texts they have studied
- develop effective reading strategies for dealing with challenging material
Transferable and Generic Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- employ correct referencing methods and construct bibliographies
- plan and carry out independent research and learning
Syllabus
This module will focus on three important texts in French post-war thought, linking these texts to three key themes in post-war history: women and society, the rise of consumer society, and decolonisation. The texts to be studied are Simone de Beauvoir, Le deuxième sexe (Vol.II), Roland Barthes, Mythologies and Frantz Fanon, Peau noire, masques blancs. While you will be invited to approach the texts with an awareness of their historical context, they will also be asked to think about ways in which these texts transcend their context and offer tools of analysis useful to any student of modern culture and society.
Learning and Teaching
Teaching and learning methods
Teaching methods include • weekly lecture • weekly seminar • individual consultations over essays and feedback from assignments Learning activities include • seminar presentations • independent learning in preparation for weekly classes
| Type | Hours |
|---|---|
| Wider reading or practice | 40 |
| Follow-up work | 4 |
| Completion of assessment task | 40 |
| Seminar | 12 |
| Preparation for scheduled sessions | 2 |
| Lecture | 12 |
| Revision | 40 |
| Total study time | 150 |
Resources & Reading list
Simone de Beauvoir. Le deuxième sexe (Vol.II).
Frantz Fanon. Peau noire, masques blancs.
Roland Barthes. Mythologies.
Assessment
Assessment Strategy
Assessments designed to provide informal, on-module feedback • seminar presentations • individual consultations on essay plans Assessment by two equally weighted essays
Summative
| Method | Percentage contribution |
|---|---|
| Essay (2000 words) | 50% |
| Essay (2000 words) | 50% |
Referral
| Method | Percentage contribution |
|---|---|
| Resubmit assessments | 100% |
Repeat Information
Repeat type: Internal & External