Wild and Tamed: Nature in French Culture and Politics

FREN30842 Wild and Tamed: Nature in French Culture and Politics 20 Semester 2 Undergraduate Level 3 Jerome Brillaud Unit coordinator 1 FHEQ level (Framework for Higher Education Qualifications) ' Last part of a Bachelors ' European Credit Transfer & Accumulation System Rating : 10.0 In this course we will study the ways in which we interact with nature, disagree on environmental issues, and imagine the future of the planet. We will see how the idea of nature has shaped the French national identity, how diverging views on nature have impacted politics in France, and how the future of nature is inseparable from the future of humankind. We will study French vs. English conceptions of nature, nature and the French colonial empire, as well as Green politics, Green activism, ecofeminism and collapsology. We will analyse the revival of natural spaces in major urban centres in the French-speaking world like Paris and Montréal. Finally, we will discuss nature as represented in climate fiction and nature documentaries. Sources will vary from historical documents, films, documentaries, literature, interviews as well as political texts and maps. See weekly syllabus below.  In this course we will study the ways in which we interact with nature, disagree on environmental issues, and imagine the future of the planet. We will see how the idea of nature has shaped the French national identity, how diverging views on nature have impacted politics in France, and how the future of nature is inseparable from the future of humankind. We will study French vs. English conceptions of nature, nature and the French colonial empire, as well as Green politics, Green activism, ecofeminism and collapsology. We will analyse the revival of natural spaces in major urban centres in the French-speaking world like Paris and Montréal. Finally, we will discuss nature as represented in climate fiction and nature documentaries. Sources will vary from historical documents, films, documentaries, literature, interviews as well as political texts and maps. See weekly syllabus below.  To provide an overview of the idea of nature from the 17th century to the present To familiarize students with the idea of nature in French culture  To provide students with key concepts of ecocriticism and environmental humanities To understand the concept of urban nature To introduce students to the history of ecology and politics in France  Analyse a variety of sources related to nature and the environment¿ Study nature documentaries and literature related to the environment  Understand the forces underpinning Green politics and green cities in the Francophone world  Use appropriate terminology to study representations of nature in a variety of discoursesUse suitable skills and appropriate terms to analyse the construction of the idea of nature Develop a critical understanding of Green politics Express ideas logically and elegantly in oral and written FrenchCommunicate strategically Synthesise complex ideas  Refine critical skillsDevelop original ideas and engage with existing theoriesImprove public speaking and group participation Other Confidence in written and oral expression Advanced communicating strategies Synthesis of complex ideas Time management 0 Other 100% <figure class="table"><table aria-rowcount="5" border="1" data-tablelook="480" data-tablestyle="MsoNormalTable"><tbody><tr aria-rowindex="1" role="row"><td data-celllook="4369" role="rowheader">Assessment task  </td><td data-celllook="4369" role="columnheader">Formative or Summative </td><td data-celllook="4369" role="columnheader">Weighting within unit (if summative) </td></tr><tr aria-rowindex="2" role="row"><td data-celllook="4369" role="rowheader">Case study of Francophone urban area </td><td data-celllook="4369">Summative </td><td data-celllook="4369">40% </td></tr><tr aria-rowindex="3" role="row"><td data-celllook="4369" role="rowheader">Essay </td><td data-celllook="4369">Summative </td><td data-celllook="4369">60% </td></tr><tr aria-rowindex="4" role="row"><td data-celllook="4369" role="rowheader">Rationale for case study </td><td data-celllook="4369">Formative </td><td data-celllook="4369"> </td></tr><tr aria-rowindex="5" role="row"><td data-celllook="4369" role="rowheader">Essay Plan </td><td data-celllook="4369">Formative </td><td data-celllook="4369"> </td></tr></tbody></table></figure>  <table aria-rowcount="4" border="1" data-tablelook="480" data-tablestyle="MsoNormalTable"> <tbody> <tr aria-rowindex="1" role="row"> <td data-celllook="4369" role="rowheader">Feedback method  </td> <td data-celllook="4369" role="columnheader">Formative or Summative </td> </tr> <tr aria-rowindex="2" role="row"> <td data-celllook="4369" role="rowheader">In class discussions </td> <td data-celllook="4369">Formative </td> </tr> <tr aria-rowindex="3" role="row"> <td data-celllook="4369" role="rowheader">Written feedback on rationale for case study </td> <td data-celllook="4369">Formative </td> </tr> <tr aria-rowindex="4" role="row"> <td data-celllook="4369" role="rowheader">Written feedback on essay plans </td> <td data-celllook="4369">Formative </td> </tr> </tbody></table> Pre/Co/Antirequisite units: Reading knowledge of French required.Medium of language: All lectures and seminars in English. Core primary sources (novel and graphic novel) are in French.  Y A range of primary and secondary sources will be available in French and in English. Here are a few examples:  Core primary sources: Nadia Coste, Rhizome (novel)Thomas <span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;display:inline !important;float:none;font-family:Aptos, Aptos_EmbeddedFont, Aptos_MSFontService, Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:16px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:start;text-decoration-color:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;">Cadène, Soon (graphic novel)<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;display:inline !important;float:none;font-family:Aptos, Aptos_EmbeddedFont, Aptos_MSFontService, Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:16px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:start;text-decoration-color:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;">Jacques Perrin, Le peuple migrateur Selection of secondary sources: Emanuele Coccia, The Life of Plants, Polity, 2018 Bousé,Derek, Wildlife Films, University of Pennsylvania Press, 2000 Posthumus, Stephanie, French Ecocritique: Reading Contemporary French Theory and Fiction ecologically, University of Toronto Press, 2017 Rumpala, Yannick, Hors des décombres du monde. Ecologie, science-fiction et éthique du futur, Champ Vallon, 2018 Vrignon, Alexis, La Naissance de l’écologie politique en France, une nébuleuse au cœur des années 68, Presses universitaires de Rennes, 2017  Lectures 22 Seminars 11 0 167 All lectures and seminars in English. Readings available in English and French.