French travellers in Mediterranean lands

Explore the Mediterranean cultures via the encounter with the Other in French writing

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CIVIS focus area
Society, culture, heritage
Open to
  • Master's
  • Phd
Field of studies
  • Social Science and humanities
Tipo
  • Blended Intensive Programmes (BIP)
Course dates
9 October - 8 December 2023

The main objective is to provide a multi-layered presentation of various images of Mediterranean lands, parting from traveling literature in different forms in order to incite the participants to understand intercultural issues within a historical, aesthetic and theoretical framework.

We want to privilege a broad learning process and thus include different historical periods, literary forms, gender issues, territories, and so on. The scope covers several centuries of writing, multiple areas of the Mediterranean lands (Corsica, Northern Africa, Egypt, Greece…), fictional and documentary sources, as well as male and female authors. In order to provide a link between the areas of content (and of geography), the program is closely tied together at the theoretical level: in all seminars, the question of the Other and the Otherness, seen through historical, cultural and generic perspectives, provides the main entrance to analytical work and deepened reflection.

The program will encourage critical thinking and the student’s initiative and responsibility for learning in proposing a wide range of possible subjects to explore within its theoretical and thematic framework. This assures at the same time the coherence of the program and the active participation of the student. The students will see in what way their participation contributes to form the knowledge of the subject studied, open perspectives, strengthen their confidence and encourage their critical thinking.

Main topics addressed

  • The Other
  • Orientialism
  • Mediterranean cultures
  • Travel writing
  • Mediation
  • Imagery

Learning outcomes

  • New and broad knowledge in travelling literature and the presentation of Mediterranean lands
  • Enhanced understanding of intercultural patterns and historical factors, including history of ideas
  • Improved ability to apply theory and perform a literary analysis
  • Improved or confirmed (for the native speakers) proficiency in the French language, oral and written
Dates: 9 October - 8 December 2023 Total workload: 150 hours
Format: Blended ECTS: 6
Location: Stockholm, Sweden Language: French (B2) 
Contact: hans.farnlof@su.se  

Recognition of ECTS depends on your home university.

Physical mobility

The face-to-face part will take place in Stockholm, Sweden, from 4 to 8 December 2023.

The campus week in Stockholm will concentrate on active group work, discussions and presentations from the students, as well as deepened analysis from the teachers, parting from the seminars given online. The sessions will take a colloquial form, which will prepare the students for research seminars and conferences if they choose to enter doctoral formation.

The campus week is scheduled to coincide with the Nobel Prize Week, with many cultural manifestations in Stockholm to discover!

Social and cultural activities will be suggested as part of the BIP-program.

Virtual part

The virtual part will be running from 9 October to 23 November 2023.

We will start with a general introduction, with all the teachers present, in order to lay a firm ground for the entire course. Each teacher will then dispose of a seminar online, given once a week, from mid-October to late November (specific dates and schedule are soon to be announced on this site).

This pace will allow for reading and reflection. The content will prepare the students for the campus week. We will finish the seminar with a session focused on method (for the oral presentation and written paper).

Planning

  • Friday 13 October
  • Friday 20 October
  • Friday 27 October
  • Friday 10 November
  • Friday 17 November
  • Friday 24 November

All courses will be held on Zoom, from 9:00 to 12:00 CET.

Requirements

This course is open to Master's and PhD students at CIVIS member universities enrolled in cultural studies or with a background in French literature.

Participants should have a good level of written and spoken French, culture in the humanities (literature, sociology, anthropology, linguistics, etc.), critical thinking, curiosity, and desire to participate. 

NB: Visiting Students - Erasmus Funding Eligibility

To be eligible for your selected CIVIS programme, you must be a fully enrolled student at your CIVIS home university at the time you will be undertaking the programme. Click here to learn more about the eligibility criteria.

Application process

Send your application by filling in the online application form by 8 March 2023 with the following documents:

  • Motivation letter
  • CV
  • Research project outlines

Applications will be evaluated according to the student's motivation, level in French, and interest.

Apply now

Assessment

The assessment will be based on the following criteria:

  • Oral presentation during campus week (2 ECTS)
  • Scientific paper to send in after the campus week (4 ECTS)
  • Hans Färnlöf, Associate Professor in French, Department of Romance and Classic studies, Stockholm University.
  • Irini Apostolou, Associate Professor in French, Department of French, University of Athens.
  • Sébastien Douchet, Senior Lecturer in French, Department of French, University of Aix-en-Provence.
  • Vanezia Pârlea, Senior Lecturer in French, Department of French, University of Bucharest.
  • Sylvie Requemora, Professor in French, Department of French, University of Aix-en-Provence.