French Travellers in South-Eastern Europe and Mediterranean Lands

The main objective of the program is to provide a multi-layered presentation of various images of South-Eastern Europe and Mediterranean lands, based on travel literature in different forms in order to incite the participants to understand intercultural issues within a historical, aesthetic and theoretical framework.

The course aims to privilege a broad learning process and thus include different historical periods, literary forms, gender issues and territories. The scope covers several centuries of writing, multiple areas of the Mediterranean lands (Corsica, Northern Africa, Egypt, Greece, Ottoman Empire...) and South-Eastern Europe, 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 offering 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

• Travel writing and Mediterranean cultures
• Mobilities and intercultural dialogues in Mediterranean and South-Eastern European lands
• Cultural exchanges between Western Europe and South-Eastern Europe during the 20th century
• Cultural diplomacy through travel
• Cultural exchanges and the representation of Otherness
• The image of Corsica
• The chronotopic imaginary
• Greek antiquity as seen by French modern travelers
• Orientalism and Oriental fashion in the service of the knowledge of the Other
• Traveling to the Orient in the Classical Age
• Tales of fact and tales of fable: the journeys in question
• Corsairs, pirates, buccaneers: the relation of captivity
• The theatrical turqueries

Learning outcomes

The program will foster critical thinking and encourage students to take initiative and responsibility for their learning by proposing a wide range of subjects to explore within its theoretical and thematic framework. This will ensure the program's coherence while promoting active student participation through:

-Structured class debates: Develop analytical reasoning and intercultural communication skills in guided sessions.

-Intercultural networking: Foster global perspectives and collaboration in group discussions.

-Teamworking (write and present a short case study of some relevant aspects- to be proposed by the student and discussed with the supervisors): Encourage collaboration in writing and presenting case studies on topics proposed by students and refined through supervisor consultation.

-Critical thinking: Cultivated through inquiry-based tasks and reflection activities.

-Scientific writing: Focus on clarity, logical structure, and evidence-based argumentation in written reports.

-Oral presentation: Strengthen skills in audience engagement, coherent idea articulation, and question responses.