COURSE OUTLINE AND
OBJECTIVES
Course
prerequisites
LANG2048 is open to students
who have successfully completed LANG1001 (French Language I.1)
and LANG1002 (French Language I.2) in their first year. Alternatively,
applicants will be required to provide evidence that they have
attained elsewhere a standard at least comparable to a pass in
the prerequisite course.
Students may not enrol in LANG2048
without enrolling in LANG2001 (French II.1).
Schedule
and Weighting : This course is taught in the second
semester only and consists of two hours of lectures
per week plus additional tutorials. The weighting of LANG2048 is 3
credits.
General
aim
- To review a range
of key authors who have marked the popular music in France (la Chanson
française), from the
early 20th century to the present day
- To enhance aural and reading skills; to familiarize with France’s
contemporary popular culture
- To prepare students for the period of time they are advised to
spend in the country during the summer.
Course
Overview
: The course will be structured around the reading of representative
texts and lyrics of various genres and periods, with an emphasis on
the postwar period and the late 20th century. As we examine the significance
and meaning of these works, attention will be given to their reception
by the public, their period and context, their interaction with the
cultural and social trends. In some instances, we will examine how
particular song lyrics have been incorporated into the French language
while others have appeared as a direct challenge to the language. The
literary nature, the cultural dimension of these lyrics will be emphasized
throughout the course. Short biographies of the most celebrated authors
will also be discussed. The teaching material used for this course
will be in French, and the main medium of instruction will be French.
Course
content
The periods and authors will be presented
and discussed as themes in the following sequence :
1.1. – 1.2 Traditional songs and early 20th century songs, viz.,
Aristide Bruand
2.1. – 2.2 The classic period, viz., Charles Trenet, Edith Piaf,
Yves Montand
3.1. – 3.2 The postwar period, Saint Germain-des-Prés,
viz., Serge Gainsbourg, Juliette Greco, Boris Vian
4.1. – 4.2 The 60s - The nonchalant and the contestant, viz.,
Jacques Dutronc, France Gall, Antoine, Michel Polnareff
5.1. – 5.2 The 70s - Songs as “textual”, viz., Claude Nougaro,
Georges Brassens, Jacques Brel
6.1. – 6.2 The 80s - Mixed genres, viz., Michel Jonasz, Francis
Cabrel, Alain Souchon, Enzo Enzo, MC Solaar, Etienne Daho
7.1. – 7.2 Post- 90s and the contemporary, viz., Zazie, Axelle
Red, Manu Chao, Pascal Obispo