FR4182 Goods and Ads: Consumerism in Modern France

Academic year

2024 to 2025 Semester 2

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

To be arranged.

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

Module coordinator

Dr E S M Hugueny-Leger

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

Module description

How have writers and artists reacted to the rise of consumer society in modern France? To what extent does the desire to possess shape social and gender roles? These are some of the questions which this module intends to explore, drawing on a varied corpus encompassing literature, film, television, advertisement, and ranging from Emile Zola's Au Bonheur des dames to Frédéric Beigbeder's 99 Francs. We will look at reactions to the rise of the bourgeois society, the use of objects in surrealist art, representations and criticisms of la société de consommation, as well as literary and sociological approaches to (anti-)consumerism, from the end of the nineteenth century to the turn of the new millennium.

Relationship to other modules

Pre-requisites

BEFORE TAKING THIS MODULE YOU MUST PASS FR2202

Assessment pattern

Coursework = 100%

Re-assessment

3-hour Written Examination = 100%

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

1 seminar and 1 surgery hour, plus occasional and optional film/video viewing.