This course explores the way the French view their past through myths created to inscribe that past into national memory. We will examine modern French history and culture from the perspective of les lieux de mémoire, evaluating both thematically and chronologically the symbolic events (Bastille Day), institutions (the Napoleonic Code), people (Joan of Arc), and places (Sacré-Coeur) that have shaped French national identity. We begin by analyzing such concepts as the nation, the hexagon, and the colonial mission civilisatrice and go on to examine the legacy of key moments in French history, among them the French Revolution and the era of Napoleon, the establishment of the Third Republic and an overseas empire, the two World Wars, the Algerian conflict, and the events of May 1968.

Units: 1

Max Enrollment: 12

Prerequisites: Two units, FREN 210 or above.

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

Typical Periods Offered: Fall

Semesters Offered this Academic Year: Fall; Not Offered; Spring