French 138: FRENCH CULTURE THROUGH FILM
With the implementation of audio lectures, FR 138 “French Culture Through Film” investigates important cultural and historical moments in contemporary France with a special emphasis on the ways in which these moments are represented in film. A central concern is the continual construction of French identity in the turbulent times of the 20th century. How did the French identify themselves? Which groups were included, which were excluded, and in what ways did cinema engage in this process? This is a course for students who are interested in French history and culture in particular as well as cinema in general. Prior film studies coursework is not required. This course is taught in English.
What will I learn in this course?
This is a 3-credit, 100 level French course on the study of French culture through film. This course has been taught in residence for many years and has often been one of the most popular general education offerings. In this course you will:
- Demonstrate knowledge of major events and currents in the contemporary history of France and the Francophone world via short on-line activities
- Analyze and interpret cinematic form via regular asynchronous discussion with peers and the instructor
- Craft a well-organized analytical project that demonstrates your mastery of the course material
- Develop the capacity of a critical consumer and spectator through regular movie journals
This course meets the General Education Humanities (GH) requirements and the Bachelor of Arts degree requirements. See your advisor if you have questions about how this course can be used in your program of study.
Are there any prerequisites for this course?
There are no prerequisites to take FR 138 “French Culture Through Film”.
I've never taken an online course before. What is it like?
By taking an online course, you can learn beyond the traditional borders of the classroom, and as part of a wider and more diverse audience. There are no preset meeting times, so this class will help those who are struggling with scheduling issues. We'll use Penn State's ANGEL system for FR 137, and a combination of flash slideshows, audio, and images as our class "lecture." You'll communicate with the professor and your classmates through chat, e-mail, and threaded discussions within ANGEL.
An online course is not easier than a traditional resident course! You must be willing and able to commit the same amount of time as you would for attending class and studying for a traditional course. If you're wondering whether an online course is right for you, take this short survey to find out more about how online learning is different.
What are the technological requirements for this course?
To complete this course, you must have the following equipment or capabilities:
- have access to a computer that meets the ANGEL technological requirements.
- have access to a computer with audio speakers several days each week
- have access once a week to a computer with a built-in microphone or an external microphone (which can be purchased inexpensively at most office supply stores)
- be comfortable with navigating the Internet and downloading and uploading files.
The course content and threaded discussion tools are located in ANGEL.
How is the course structured?
The course is divided into 10 units of two lessons apiece. The first lesson examines an important historical movement or event in an assigned reading. The second lesson concentrates on a film that illustrates the same period.
A lesson proceeds in two main steps. The first step gives you the opportunity to more or less passively engage the information presented. Each lesson has a preparatory activity, the primary text, an accompanying lecture in Flash format, and a summary activity. The second step engages you in collective and active analysis. After completing the assignments you will discuss the material with your fellow students in discussion boards.
Throughout the course, you will conduct research and analysis to create a final project that demonstrates a broad mastery of the information and concepts investigated in the assignments. This project is created in small steps simultaneously with the other coursework.
Where can I get more information?
For more information about FR 138 Online, see a recent course syllabus. To register, visit the Office of the University Registrar. At the beginning of each semester, all enrolled students should access FR 137 at the site of Penn State's course management system, ANGEL.
Vivre sa vie (My Life to Live),1962
"I pity the French Cinema because it has no money. I pity the American Cinema because it has no ideas."
Jean-Luc Godard
Director
French Culture French Films
Federation of Alliances Francaises USA
A Very Long Engagement
Directed by
Jean-Pierre Jeunet, 2004
Louis Malle (1932-1995)
"Each movie is a piece of life, a different adventure. It expresses my interest of the moment, somewhat like a love affair finally. In both cases, I only trust love at first sight."
"I left the ending ambiguous, because that is the way life is."
Bernardo Bertolucci
Director of
The Dreamers(2004)