WLC 3310: Cultures of France
Format:16-Week Semester · Fully Asynchronous · Via Canvas
Prerequisites: Junior standing; completion of GE Area 1 with grades of C- or better (GE Area A for the 2020-26 catalogs); completion of GE Area 2 with a grade of C- or better (GE Area B4 for the 2020-26 catalogs); and completion of one course in lower-division GE Area 3 (GE Areas C1 or C2 for the 2020-26 catalogs).
Course Overview
What does it really mean to be “French”?
At first glance, the answer might seem simple. But the closer you look, the more interesting—and complicated—the question becomes.
WLC 3310: Cultures of France takes you far past standard tourist stereotypes. In this fully online, asynchronous course, we treat French culture as an active subject of inquiry rather than a stagnant list of historical facts to memorize. Instead of drilling dates, you will investigate how modern identity is built, challenged, and constantly reinvented.
Through films, music, literature, fashion, journalism, and contemporary debates, you will encounter multiple—and sometimes competing—ways of imagining France and “Frenchness.”
What You Will Investigate
The course is organized into structured, thematic modules that tackle French identity from many different angles:
Foundations of Identity (Weeks 1–2): Unpack everyday French social "codes" and explore the fierce battles over protecting the language versus adopting gender-neutral writing (écriture inclusive).
Institutions & Society (Weeks 3–5): Examine the unique balance of elitism and equality in French schools, decode the absolute authority of the state (L’État), and analyze why state secularism (laïcité) sparks intense debate.
Friction & Flashpoints (Weeks 6–9): Confront social exclusion in the housing projects (banlieues) through award-winning cinema like La Haine, trace the "revolutionary spirit" behind street strikes, look honestly at colonial history, and decode French workplace culture.
Geographic Lenses (Weeks 10–13): Question Paris's cultural monopoly. Look at French identity globally (the Caribbean), regionally (deep-diving into the complex identity of Alsace), and continentally through the lens of Europe.
Modern Synthesis (Weeks 14–16): Study contemporary French hip-hop, high fashion, and art, evaluate arguments about the "decline" of French culture, and ultimately look back to see how your own worldview has evolved.
Why Enroll?
Total Flexibility: Designed as a 100% asynchronous course on Canvas, this class fits seamlessly into your busy schedule—whether you are balancing a job, a heavy course load, or an internship.
Engaging Media: Learn by immersing yourself in authentic cultural texts, including cinema, literature, music, and international journalism, rather than a traditional textbook.
No Rote Memorization: Forget stressful multiple-choice tests. Your grade is based on interactive Canvas discussions, a personal reflection journal, an independent inquiry project on a topic you choose, and a brief, live conversational final on Zoom centered on critical thinking.
Skills for a Global Career: By learning how cultures are constructed, marketed, and defended, you will build media literacy and intercultural communication skills highly prized in business, international relations, and creative industries.