GBPGBP (Global Business Program)

The goal of this class is to learn about the history and culture of French speakers living in the Canadian province of Quebec. Students will look at the very diverse cultural production of Quebec writers, intellectuals, and filmmakers from the 1960s to the present day. The class will focus on one important keyword in order to understand Quebec society and culture: the concept of sovereignty.　

***　This class will be conducted online.

Students will learn the basic theories surrounding the political concept of sovereignty. Then, they will apply these theories in order to better understand Quebec literature and films. They will be able to develop a critical approach to literary and film analysis that takes into account the cultural specificity of Quebec as well as its place in wider debates concerning political independence, minority language and intercultural communication.

英語 / English

This is a lecture class, but students will have to ask questions during class and give their opinion on many aspects of the lecture. After every class they will have to write comment papers.

あり / Yes

なし / No

授業形態/methods of teaching：対面/face to face

※各回の授業形態は予定です。教員の指示に従ってください。

1[対面/face to face]：Introduction to Quebec society from the 1960s

This class will be a survey of Quebec history from the Quiet Revolution to the present day.

2[対面/face to face]：Introduction to the concept of sovereignty

Students will learn about the concept of sovereignty through analysis of canonical texts.

3[対面/face to face]：Criticism regarding the concept of sovereignty and nationalism

We will look at the main criticism against sovereignty and nationalism as well as their impact on Quebec nationalist movement.

4[対面/face to face]：The importance of French language as the foundation of Quebec identity

We will try to understand why French is the cornerstone of Quebec identity.

5[対面/face to face]：Hockey, French language, and religion

We will watch and analyze a short film based on a novella by Roch Carrier: The Hockey Sweater

6[対面/face to face]：Personal sovereignty and political sovereignty

We will read and analyze excerpts from a novel by Hubert Aquin: Next Episode

7[対面/face to face]：Referendum and independence

We will look at the cultural production surrounding the first (1980) and second (1995) Quebec Referendum.

8[対面/face to face]：Post-referendum identity crisis

We will read and analyze songs and poems, as well as essays about the Referendum.

9[対面/face to face]：Immigration, identity, and interculturalism

We will look at the different steps taken by the Quebec government to create an inclusive society, and how it conflicts to a certain extent with the idea of sovereignty.

10[対面/face to face]：Current debates surrounding immigration and interculturalism

We will look at essays and opinion pieces written about immigration in Quebec.

11[対面/face to face]：Feminism in Quebec

Students will learn about the history of the feminist movement in Quebec.

12[対面/face to face]：Literature and migration

We will read a text by Kim Thuy and look a the situation of refugees in Quebec.

13[対面/face to face]：Literature and Quebec migration

We will read a text by Marco Micone.

14[対面/face to face]：Quebec and cinema

We will watch and analyze a film by Pierre Falardeau.

Students will be asked to read a series of texts by French writers and intellectuals in English translation. They will have to write short commentaries about the texts. Also, they will have to watch short films produced in Quebec. Preparatory study and review time for this class are 2 hours each.

There is no textbook for this class.

Jacques Derrida, The Beast and the Sovereign, Volume I (The Seminars of Jacques Derrida), University Of Chicago Press, 2011.
Jacques Derrida, The Death Penalty, Volume I (The Seminars of Jacques Derrida),University Of Chicago Press, 2013.
Hubert Aquin, Next Episode, New Canadian Library, 2010.
Roch Carrier, The Hockey Sweater, Tundra Books, 1985.
Gerard Bouchard, Interculturalism: A View from Quebec,University of Toronto Press, 2015.
Gerard Bouchard, National Myths: Constructed Pasts, Contested Presents, Routledge, 2013.

Final exam (40%)
Short essays (40%)
Class participation (20%)

There has not been negative feedback for this class. I intend to put even more emphasis on interaction with students this year.

None