Us and Them: Travel and Identity
F06
Jean-Frédéric Hennuy
Travel not only brings one face to face with the reality of the “other,” it also transforms the identity of the traveler himself. Through the reading of texts by authors from Flaubert to Leclézio, we will explore such notions as diversity, strangeness, exoticism, and orientalism, concentrating on how they influence the perceptions and representations we have of other cultures and of ourselves. Regular writing assignments and presentations will emphasize the oral and written language skills needed when constructing an argument and developing critical analyses of literary texts. Students will also undertake a final research project related to the topic of the course. Conducted in French. Intermediate level.