Gender in Modern and Contemporary French Culture

Wedi cwblhau'r modiwl dylai'r myfyrwyr fedru:

1. Demonstrate in-depth awareness of approaches to gender in modern and contemporary France.
2. Demonstrate in-depth knowledge of the theoretical, political, and cultural expressions of these approaches.
3. Critically analyse literary, theoretical, political, historical and artistic sources and make appropriate use of secondary material.
4. Identify and interpret connections between the cultural, political and theoretical components of the module.
5. Express key ideas clearly through the medium of English/Welsh and/or French.

This module studies some of the key theory, political debates, fiction, visual art, and music concerned with gender in France. It allows students to familiarise themselves with extracts from theoretical texts on feminism and gender. It discusses the representation of gender in visual art and in fiction and considers the politics of gender in contemporary French society, in particular debates about legal equality (such as the right to vote, equal pay and representation) and the recent #balancetonporc (#metoo) movement in France. The module will encourage students to draw comparisons between different forms of cultural expression, and identify points of contact and mutual influence between the theoretical, political and cultural aspects of the course.

This module studies some of the key theory, political debates, fiction, visual art, and music concerned with gender in France. It allows students to familiarise themselves with extracts from theoretical texts on feminism and gender. It discusses the representation of gender in visual art and in fiction and considers the politics of gender in contemporary French society, in particular debates about legal equality (such as the right to vote, equal pay and representation) and the recent #balancetonporc (#metoo) movement in France. The module will encourage students to draw comparisons between different forms of cultural expression, and identify points of contact and mutual influence between the theoretical, political and cultural aspects of the course.

Block 1: Introduction to the module, Feminist theory (texts I and II)

Study skills session

Block 2: Introduction to the politics of gender in France; Political movements around gender

Block 3: French women’s writing (texts I and II); Gender and visual art

Informal poster presentations and module conclusion

Primary material will be taken from the following sources:

Beauvoir, Simone de, Le Deuxieme sexe (1949)

Chilla, ‘Balance ton porc’ (rap song)


Darrieussecq, Marie, Truismes (1996)

Despentes, Virginie, King Kong Théorie (2006)

NDiaye, Marie, Trois femmes puissantes (2009)

Slimani, Leila, Chanson douce (2017)

Germaine Richier, plastic art

Louise Bourgeois, plastic art

Historical documents and manifestoes

Mae'r modiwl hwn yn cydymffurfio a FfCChC Lefel 6