Last modified: 20 Jun 2025 15:13
The course introduces students to the literature and cinema of Francophone Africa and the Caribbean, from the colonial period, through Independence/Departmentalization and their aftermath, to the problems facing contemporary postcolonial society. We examine the socio-political and socio-historical contexts of the texts under discussion. Issues explored include: literature/cinema as historical document; identity; colonialism/neo-colonialism/post-colonialism; language; irony; and gender issues.
| Study Type | Undergraduate | Level | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Term | First Term | Credit Points | 15 credits (7.5 ECTS credits) |
| Campus | Aberdeen | Sustained Study | No |
| Co-ordinators |
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Francophone literature was born out of the struggle against colonialism. Today, the former colonial language of French is an official language in 26 countries on the African continent and 5 Caribbean islands. This course will introduce students to the literature and cinema of Francophone Africa and the Caribbean, exploring the tensions and challenges faced by writers and directors in employing the language of the former coloniser. We will examine texts from the colonial period, through Independence and Departmentalization and their aftermath, to the problems facing contemporary postcolonial society. Students will be introduced to the historical, social and political background of the texts under discussion, considering the issues arising out of the films and texts taken separately, as well as the interrelations between them. Students will develop knowledge and understanding of the contexts of the production of Francophone African literature and film and the impact of the legacies of colonisation and enslavement. They will undertake detailed analysis of the works concerned, drawing on appropriate postcolonial theory. There will be particular focus on the development of women’s writing in the African continent and the Caribbean. Students will be given opportunities to pursue related independent research, to synthesize information from different parts of the course, and to present their findings as a group in a student-led seminar. Areas of enquiry on the course will include: literature and cinema as historical document; colonialism/neo-colonialism/post-colonialism; the role of literature and film in political activism; education and identity; the relationship between oral and written narratives; the decolonization of the French language; humour and political satire; and gender issues. The course is open to students with a reading knowledge of French. Written texts will usually be available in translation for students with no or limited knowledge of French.
Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 70 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | Feedback Weeks | |||
| Feedback |
Written Feedback NOTE: The expectations and criteria against which written assessments are marked are differentiated between levels. At Junior Honours, analysis will focus on an individual text. |
Word Count | 2500 | |
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Conceptual | Understand | Develop knowledge and understanding of the experience of colonialism and enslavement in Africa and the Caribbean and the struggle for and aftermath of independence from the former colonial power. |
| Procedural | Evaluate | Select and organize primary and secondary materials, evaluating a range of critical viewpoints and taking account of the wider cultural context of the topic under consideration. |
| Procedural | Evaluate | Use critical reading skills to undertake detailed textual analysis of written texts & film with various forms of written & spoken French, relating them to their cultural,historical & political context |
| Reflection | Create | Formulate clear, convincing oral and written arguments informed by comparative textual analysis and engagement with criticism and theory relevant to the (post-)colonial historico-political context. |
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 30 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | Feedback Weeks | |||
| Feedback |
Duration: 10 mins Oral Feedback. |
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| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Conceptual | Understand | Develop knowledge and understanding of the experience of colonialism and enslavement in Africa and the Caribbean and the struggle for and aftermath of independence from the former colonial power. |
| Procedural | Evaluate | Select and organize primary and secondary materials, evaluating a range of critical viewpoints and taking account of the wider cultural context of the topic under consideration. |
| Procedural | Evaluate | Use critical reading skills to undertake detailed textual analysis of written texts & film with various forms of written & spoken French, relating them to their cultural,historical & political context |
| Reflection | Create | Formulate clear, convincing oral and written arguments informed by comparative textual analysis and engagement with criticism and theory relevant to the (post-)colonial historico-political context. |
There are no assessments for this course.
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 100 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | Feedback Weeks | |||
| Feedback |
Word Count: 2,500 Written feedback |
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| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
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| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Conceptual | Understand | Develop knowledge and understanding of the experience of colonialism and enslavement in Africa and the Caribbean and the struggle for and aftermath of independence from the former colonial power. |
| Procedural | Evaluate | Use critical reading skills to undertake detailed textual analysis of written texts & film with various forms of written & spoken French, relating them to their cultural,historical & political context |
| Procedural | Evaluate | Select and organize primary and secondary materials, evaluating a range of critical viewpoints and taking account of the wider cultural context of the topic under consideration. |
| Reflection | Create | Formulate clear, convincing oral and written arguments informed by comparative textual analysis and engagement with criticism and theory relevant to the (post-)colonial historico-political context. |
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