FREN 280 - “On connaît la chanson”: French & Francophone Culture through Songs

Semester Offered: Spring
1 unit(s)

This class offers a panorama of the history and culture of French and Francophone society through the very particular concept of chanson française. In France, chanson française is part of a common patrimony, which every single person shares. There are many French singers that have made it to the canon over the years, new ones that are battling to make it, and Belgian and Québécois artists who have somehow become assimilated. Is the cliché of sad, French songs about long lost lovers or disappointed love just a stereotype? What do French songs tell us about society, about cities and countryside, about relationships, and even about politics? From popular folk songs to French hip hop, through the study of musical style and lyrics, and of several films about French artists, students learn how the chanson française has evolved to reflect the diversity of the French population today. Pauline Goul.

Prerequisite(s): FREN 212 or the equivalent, or permission of the instructor.

Two 75-minute periods.