In this course, students will be introduced to the history, literature and culture of several francophone countries. Texts (excerpts of novels, poetry, plays) and other documents (comic books, articles, songs, films and documentaries) from Quebec, North and West Africa, the West Indies and Europe will be used to study the social and geopolitical situation of these regions and their artistic esthetic. Topics like exile, colonialism, neocolonialism, postcolinialism, ""négritude"", ""créolité"", women's rights, identity, tradition and language will be explored through the study and analisis of texts by Aimé Césaire, Frantz Fanon, Albert Memmi, Léopold Sedar Senghor, Léon G. Damas, Maryse Condé, Suzanne Dracius, Birago Diop, Kama-Sywor Kamanda, Roch Carrier, Mariama Bâ among others. Excerpts from a comic book by Marguerite Abouet, and documentaries will also be included. Students will continue to perfect their reading and writing skills individually through short compositions and in group through document analysis. A great emphasis will be given to reading comprehension and developping writing skills. Students will practice their oral competence in class. An individual oral presentation and a final paper on one aspect of francophone culture will be required.

Required Text:
1) Césaire, Aimé, Une tempête ;ISBN:978-2-02-031431-2; Editions du Seuil, 1969
2) Mariama Bâ, Une si longue lettre; ISBN:978-2842612894, Nouvelles Editions Africaines du Sénégal (NEAS), Serpent à Plumes