University of St Andrews

Key information

SCOTCAT credits : 15

ECTS credits : 7

Level : SCQF level 10

Semester: 1

Planned timetable: To be confirmed

What is the place of song in French-language culture? In what ways does song express the complexities of national, regional, ethnic, cultural, class or gender identity? In this module we will study the history of song in French across a wide variety of genres, places and time periods. In a typical semester we will cover four topics chosen from a broad selection including: (1) the setting of poetry to music in classical art song, or mélodie, (2) rap and hip-hop from France and across the French-speaking world, (3) sexual and gender politics in contemporary pop (4) la chanson populaire: variété icons and la chanson à textes from the 1960s to the present (5) linguistic and cultural identity in folk song from the French regions and francophone countries. Classes will feature close textual analysis of individual songs as well as discussions of broader socio-political and musical themes arising from them. The module will be taught and assessed in French. No musical expertise is required.

Relationship to other modules

Pre-requisite(s): Before taking this module you must pass FR2202

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact: 2 lectures and 14 seminars over 11 weeks. 2 module surgery hours (x 11 weeks).

Scheduled learning hours: 20

Guided independent study hours: 125

Assessment pattern

As used by St Andrews: 100% Coursework


Re-assessment: 100% Coursework

Personnel

Module coordinator: Dr D E Evans
Module teaching staff: Dr David Evans, Dr Pauline Souleau
Module coordinator email dee3@st-andrews.ac.uk

Intended learning outcomes

• Knowledge of a wide range of different song cultures across the French-speaking world
• Development of critical thinking by elaborating theoretical frameworks through which to read song as artefact, text, performance and identity marker.
• Research skills, developed in both the seminars and the coursework, as students will be asked to bring original material to class discussion and to design their own essay question.
• Language skills, both written and oral, as this module will be taught and assessed entirely in French.
• Students will develop their skills of close textual analysis through engagement with a broad selection of primary texts.
• This module also foregrounds the specific skill of aural comprehension, since students will be exposed to far more spoken and sung French than elsewhere on their curriculum.