Migration in Franco Literature and Arts

The long history of migration in France, and its current visibility in politics and society make studying this theme in literature, film, and other cultural production fundamental to our understanding of mainland France today. This course focuses on written and visual texts connected to both France, and other regions of departure (including but not limited to North Africa and West/Central Africa). We examine key themes in texts focused on migration: labor, education and assimilation, family/next generations, and clandestine immigration. In addition to primary texts, secondary critical reading will ground discussion in postcolonial theory, gender studies, and francophone studies in order to understand the long tradition of these themes in francophone literature and film.