FJ2B023 Contemporary society through the eyes of French writing authors

Faculty of Arts
Autumn 2025
Extent and Intensity
0/2/0. 5 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
doc. PhDr. Petr Dytrt, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
doc. PhDr. Petr Dytrt, Ph.D.
Department of Romance Languages and Literatures – Faculty of Arts
Supplier department: Department of Romance Languages and Literatures – Faculty of Arts
Timetable
Tue 16:00–17:40 G01, except Mon 17. 11. to Sun 23. 11.
Prerequisites
Knowledge of French at level B1/B2 (CEFRL).
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
The capacity limit for the course is 20 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 13/20, only registered: 0/20, only registered with preference (fields directly associated with the programme): 0/20
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
there are 24 fields of study the course is directly associated with, display
Course objectives
This optional two-hour lecture course serves as an introduction to the study of contemporary French-language novels through the lens of societal change. A brief overview of the most significant changes in Western society will serve as a basis for the analysis and development of literary texts. After a brief overview of the major trends in contemporary narrative literature, the main part of the course will consist of observing the changes that have taken place in Western society since 2000, as studied and commented on by contemporary historians, sociologists, and philosophers. This section will be followed by an interpretive section, which aims to apply these observations to literary texts. This section will be entirely based on the choices made by course participants in terms of authors and texts presented in the form of oral presentations.
Learning outcomes
After completion of this course, students will be able to:
- identify and summarise the important features of the contemporary French novel;
- apply social science knowledge to the interpretation of a literary work of their choice;
. - analyse and critically evaluate the meaning of a literary text;
- present the author, his/her work and the basic results of his/her analysis by applying social science theories to a literary text in a structured document.
Syllabus
  • I) Introduction: French-language literature from the late 20th century and the first quarter of the 21st century – basic concepts, perspective (themes, trends, evolution of forms);
  • II) Contemporary society and its problems (migration, insecurity, violence, climate crisis, anthropocene, etc.);
  • III) Methodological aspects: literature and social sciences, field literature, ecocriticism;
  • IV) Presentations and discussions;
  • V) Assessments and assignment submission.
Literature
    recommended literature
  • BLANCKEMAN, Bruno, Aline MURA-BRUNEL a Marc DAMBRE. Le roman français au tournant du XXIe siècle. Paris: Presses Sorbonne nouvelle, 2004, 589 s. ISBN 2878542878.
  • Roussigné, M. (2023). Terrain et littérature, nouvelles approches. Presses universitaires de Vincennes. https://shs-cairn-info.ezproxy.muni.cz/terrain-et-litterature-nouvelles-approches--9782379243516?lang=fr.
  • AUGÉ, Marc. Antropologie současných světů. Vyd. 1. Brno: Atlantis, 1999, 127 s. ISBN 807108154x.
  • Écrire le présent. Edited by Gianfranco Rubino - Dominique Viart. Paris: Armand Colin, 2012, 248 s. ISBN 9782200285432. info
    not specified
  • Un retour des normes romanesques dans la littérature française contemporaine. Edited by Wolfgang Asholt - Marc Dambre. Paris: Presses Sorbonne nouvelle, 2011, 317 s. ISBN 9782878544978. info
Teaching methods
Readings, class discussion, group projects, presentations.
Assessment methods
1) Regular attendance (tolerance 2 absences per semester);
2) Active participation in class, including homework;
3) Regular performance of tasks by the teacher;
4) Analysis of the novel in the form of an oral presentation in class, based on the personal choice of the student after approval by the teacher.
Language of instruction
French
Further Comments
Study Materials
The course is taught only once.
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2019, Autumn 2020, Autumn 2024.
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/phil/autumn2025/FJ2B023