France & the Second World War: memory, trauma & identity

Aims

Aims

This module will discuss the evolving representations of the Second World War in French collective memory. It will use a wide variety of primary and secondary materials including newspaper articles, speeches, documentaries, films, short stories, diaries, eye-witness accounts and photographs to analyse the impact of the French experience of the war on the construction of national identity. The issues for discussion might include:

• the immediate post-war purges
• the construction and collapse of the ‘Resistance’ myth
• the extent, nature and legacy of collaboration
• the crimes against humanity trials of the 80’s and 90’s (Barbie, Papon etc.)
• the difficult post-war process of acknowledging and dealing with French involvement in the Holocaust and
• the continuing relevance of the war years to contemporary French politics and society.

Satisfactory completion of the course should enable students to:

• Demonstrate an in-depth understanding of some of the topics discussed
• Demonstrate an ability to undertake personal research
• Discuss sources in French from a critical perspective and develop arguments effectively
• Develop increased confidence and advanced accuracy in the production of French

Prerequisites

Prerequisites

Students must have successfully completed:

• F03I French Language & Society II

Programme

Programme

Contact hours

Two hours per week.

Teaching programme

TBC

The module will be taught in French.

Assessment and feedback

Assessment and feedback

Feedback on formative work

Formative essay and seminar presentations throughout.

Summative assessment and feedback

• Coursework 
  • Due: Spring Term, Week 10
  • Weight: 40%
• Written assignment
  • Length: 3000 words
  • Due: Summer Term, Week 6
  • Weight: 60%