The men-and women-who made up what we refer to today as the “Age of Enlightenment” hailed from a surprising variety of backgrounds ranging from the halls of Versailles, Parisian cafés, provincial Academies, to the literary underground of pornographers and pamphleteers. Starting from the premise that cultural transformations are achieved through social connections, this course will examine Ancien Régime fictional, historical, and political networks as a means of understanding the origins of the French Revolution. This course will introduce students to the concept of social networks as a sociological theory and as a recent digital humanities approach. Through experimentation with, and critique of, existing Digital Humanities projects, students will understand network theory as a means to analyze the social structures of historical actors and literary characters. No previous digital humanities experience required.

Units: 1

Max Enrollment: 12

Prerequisites: Two units, FREN 210 or above.

Distribution Requirements: LL - Language and Literature

Typical Periods Offered: Spring

Semesters Offered this Academic Year: Not Offered

Notes: