Louis XIV sought to present his royal court at Versailles as the ultimate in monarchical splendor and power. Yet writers who frequented the court focus on its dangerous intrigues, moral corruption, and petty rivalries. The course will explore this discrepancy through close study of official and unofficial productions of the court. Royal paintings, medallions, architecture, ceremonies, and official historiography all foreground the Sun King's glory; novels, memoirs, letters, and moral treatises seem to undo the very notions of courtly magnificence put forward by the monarchy. Both elements are crucial to understanding the social, political, religious, and artistic practices that defined the court. Recent films and historical works on Versailles will help us evaluate its legacy for contemporary French culture.

Units: 1

Max Enrollment: 14

Prerequisites: At least one unit of FREN 205, FREN 206, FREN 207, FREN 208, FREN 209 or above, or an equivalent departmental placement score.

Instructor: Bilis

Distribution Requirements: LL - Language and Literature; HS - Historical Studies

Semesters Offered this Academic Year: Not Offered

Notes: