FFS 280 - French TV Series Unwound

Semester Offered: Fall
1 unit(s)

Covering a wide range of topics, French TV series of significant quality have captivated viewers and critics for almost 20 years and are garnering international recognition through streaming platforms. A form of soft power, some series may reinforce dominant ideologies in uncritical ways while others constitute tools to reinterpret the past, question institutions, and rewrite prevailing narratives. They also make room for under-represented actors, screenwriters, and filmmakers. In this course, we examine a number of series, some of which enjoy cult status, to understand how they tackle key socio-political issues, cut across cinematic genres, and renew in creative ways the discourses and techniques of visual storytelling. Underscoring their versatility and complexity, we analyze their educational value and the spaces they carve for public discussions and innovative cultural exchanges. Series studied may include Engrenages (2005-2020), Un Village français (2009-2017), Les Revenants (2012), Ainsi soient-ils (2012-2015), Dix pour cent ([Call my Agent], 2015), Le Bureau des légendes ([The Bureau], 2015), Mytho (2016), Le Baron Noir (2016), Mixte, and Lupin (2021). Patricia-Pia Célérier.

Prerequisite(s): FFS 212 or the equivalent, or permission of the instructor.

Two 75-minute periods.

Course Format: CLS