FR4130 Saint-Domingue: Theatre and Society in a Caribbean Slave Colony

Academic year

2025 to 2026 Semester 1

Further information on which modules are specific to your programme.

Key module information

SCOTCAT credits

15

The Scottish Credit Accumulation and Transfer (SCOTCAT) system allows credits gained in Scotland to be transferred between institutions. The number of credits associated with a module gives an indication of the amount of learning effort required by the learner. European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credits are half the value of SCOTCAT credits.

SCQF level

SCQF level 10

The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) provides an indication of the complexity of award qualifications and associated learning and operates on an ascending numeric scale from Levels 1-12 with SCQF Level 10 equating to a Scottish undergraduate Honours degree.

Availability restrictions

Not automatically available to General Degree students

Planned timetable

TBC

This information is given as indicative. Timetable may change at short notice depending on room availability.

Module coordinator

Prof J T Prest

Prof J T Prest
This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module Staff

Dr Julia Prest

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module description

The former French slave colony of Saint-Domingue (now Haiti) boasted the most vibrant theatrical tradition of the Caribbean region. Hundreds of plays, ballets and operas were performed in different towns before mixed but segregated audiences between 1764 and 1791. This module will introduce students to both the cruelty and division of contemporary Saint-Dominguan society and to the rich and varied culture of public theatre that existed there. Seeking to adopt a post-colonial approach to a colonial era, we shall explore the role of theatre in the colony as a means of enforcing, and occasionally challenging, social division between enslaved people, free people of colour, white Creoles and colonials. We shall examine local adaptations of French repertoire, the creation of local francophone works, and of Creole-language works. Throughout, the module encourages the development of a range of research skills.

Relationship to other modules

Pre-requisites

HONOURS ENTRY INTO FRENCH

Assessment pattern

Coursework = 100%

Re-assessment

3-hour Written Examination = 100%

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

1 hour lecture (6 weeks), 1 hour seminar (10 weeks)

Scheduled learning hours

16

The number of compulsory student:staff contact hours over the period of the module.

Guided independent study hours

126

The number of hours that students are expected to invest in independent study over the period of the module.