ARTS, CULTURE AND SOCIETY

The course is part of the curriculum of the Master’s degree program in European, American and Postcolonial Languages, Literatures (including the Master en études françaises et francophones).

1. Knowledge and ability to understand: the main historical stages of the relationship between art and literature; the historical and cultural context covered by the program; the works and poetics of the authors studied; in-depth knowledge of a single work in its various facets and articulations (philology, genre history, poetics, rhetoric, hermeneutics, stylistics, reception); knowledge of applied criticism.

2. Ability to place a work in its socio-historical context of production

3. Autonomy of judgment: ability to evaluate different approaches, methods and interpretations of the texts examined; ability to exercise critical spirit and analytical skills; ability to navigate among different critical perspectives.

4. Communication skills: ability to communicate course-related topics in French, clearly, coherently, with correct terminology.

5. Learning skills: Ability to synthesize, connect, order, convey ideas, forms and data.

Good knowledge of the French language, both written and oral. The course will be held in French.

On writing painters

Throughout the history of art, many artists have felt the need to take up the pen. But what makes the written word of a painter or sculptor unique? How does hands-on practice shape or deepen their discourse? And when this writing ventures into the literary realm, can it still be recognized as the voice of an artist? Can we truly consider “artists’ writings” as a distinct genre, on par with more established forms?
These are some of the questions that will guide our seminar, where we will explore not only technical reflections but also literary texts, moving between description and art criticism.

Chosen works:

- Elisabeth Vigée Le Brun, Souvenirs (1789-1792)
- Eugène Delacroix, Journal (1822-1863)
- Fromentin, Un été dans le Sahara (1857) / Dominique (1863)
- Vincent Van Gogh, Lettres (1872-1890)
- Edgar Degas, Sonnets (1914)
- Félix Vallotton, La Vie meurtrière (1907-1908)
- Claude Cahun, Héroïnes (1920-1924)
- Pablo Picasso, Le désir attrapé par la queue (1941)

In addition to these texts, other extracts will be made available on Moodle during the course, as well as additional bibliographical information.

The oral exam, which will be held in French, will include two parts: one related to the common course content: texts and documents analyzed in class and available on Moodle, with the reference bibliography (see above), and one for personal study of the topics covered, from primary and critical sources agreed with the teacher.

L’examen oral en français se compose de deux parties : la première est relative aux contenus communs du cours : textes et documents analysés pendant les cours et disponibles sur Moodle, et requiert l’étude de la bibliographie signalée ci-dessus ; l’autre concerne l’approfondissement personnel d’un sujet en lien avec l’un des thèmes du cours, à définir avec l’enseignant.

oral

The minimum grade is 18, the maximum grade is 30 with honors.

Regarding the grading scale (criteria for assigning grades):

* 18–22: sufficient knowledge of the content; limited ability to discuss independently; limited knowledge of basic textual analysis tools; limited knowledge of the author's poetics; limited knowledge of the historical-cultural context and the issues present in the texts.

* 23–26: fair knowledge of the content; fair ability to discuss independently; fair knowledge of basic textual analysis tools; fair knowledge of the author's poetics; fair knowledge of the historical-cultural context and the issues present in the texts.

* 27–30: good or excellent knowledge of the content; good or excellent ability to discuss independently; good or excellent knowledge of basic textual analysis tools; good or excellent knowledge of the author's poetics; good or excellent knowledge of the historical-cultural context and the issues present in the texts.

* 30 with honors: honors are awarded when the knowledge of the content, the ability to discuss independently, the knowledge of basic textual analysis tools, the knowledge of the author's poetics, and the knowledge of the historical-cultural context and the issues present in the texts are all outstanding.

Frontal lectures in French will be enriched by moments of exchange and shared reflection with students, on the topics covered. All teaching materials (texts and in-depth studies) uploaded during the course to the Moodle platform will be subject of study and their knowledge will be verified at the exam.

Students who are unable to attend the course in its entirety are asked to notify before the start of class.
Les étudiants qui ne pourraient pas suivre intégralement le cours sont invités à le signaler avant le début des cours.