Enfants au Luxembourg jouant avec des bateaux à voiles sur le grand bassin du jardin. (Public domain image courtesy of Bibliothèque national de France.)
Instructor(s)
Prof. Bruno Perreau
MIT Course Number
21G.312
As Taught In
Spring 2011
Level
Undergraduate
Course Description
Course Features
Course Description
Childhood is a source of fascination in most Western cultures. It is both a major inspiration for artistic creation and a political ideal, which aims at protecting future generations. Which role does it play in French society and in other francophone areas? Why is the French national anthem ("La Marseillaise") addressed to its "children"? This course will study the transformation of childhood since the 18th century and the development of sentimentality within the family. We will examine various representations of childhood in literature (e.g. Pagnol, Proust, Sarraute, Laye, Morgièvre), movies (e.g. Truffaut), and songs (e.g. Brel, Barbara). Course taught in French.