French 70C: Introduction to Francophone Literature

This course offers a survey of the vast landscape of literary production of the French-speaking world. We will read and examine works by writers from the Maghreb, West Africa, the Caribbean, the Indian Ocean, and Québec, as we consider how literature nuances historical narratives, maps individual and collective experiences, and grapples with the legacies of colonialism, slavery, and empire. Attending closely to works of literature as both aesthetic forms and historical, cultural objects, we will see how the contributions and innovations of Francophone writers intervene in contemporary discussions in literary studies (and beyond) on race, gender and sexuality, memory, identity, and justice. Periodic viewing and analysis of films will complement the readings. Readings may include works by Maryse Condé, Assia Djebar, Nathacha Appanah, and Mariama Bâ.