116-030 Paris: Ville Lumiere (on site in Paris)

Special entry conditions apply. Students should contact the department for further details.

116-133 French I: Contemporary French B and 116-134 French I: Language in Context II or 116-011 Intermediate French C and 116-012 Intermediate French D or equivalent. European studies students wishing to enrol in this subject would normally have completed first year European studies, see Prerequisites.

Nineteenth-century Paris was considered by European artists, writers and musicians alike to be the cultural capital of the world. This subject will look at how artists and writers portrayed the evolution of Paris from its Romantic vie de quartier, through its restructuring under Napoleon III to become the city of spectacle and symbol befitting its role as the capital of a powerful colonial empire. Students will stay at the 18th-century home of Mme. de Pompadour at Sèvres, just over the Seine in the former hunting park of the French kings at Saint Cloud. This is now the Centre International d'Etudes Pédagogiques de Sèvres. Specialist teachers from other Parisian universities as well as staff at Svres will participate in the lecturing and site visits. A detailed itinerary is available from the department. Scholarships are available to help some students with travel expenses.

• develop particular generic skills. Critical thinking and analysis: through required and recommended reading, essay writing and tutorial discussion, and by assessing the strength of arguments; Thinking in theoretical and analytical terms: through lectures, tutorial discussion, essay writing and engagement in the methodologies of the humanities and social sciences; Understanding of social, political, historical and cultural contexts and international awareness/openness to the world: through the contextualisation of judgements and knowledge, developing a critical self-awareness, being open to new ideas and new aspects of French and Italian culture, and by formulating arguments; Written communication: through essay and assignment preparation and writing; Public speaking and confidence in self-expression: through tutorial participation and class presentations.

A 15-minute oral presentation in French 40% (to be delivered in Paris), a 2500-word essay 60% to be researched and written up upon return (due in February).

• H de Balzac, Le père Goriot. Livre de poche 1998.
• V Hugo, Notre Dame de Paris. Garnier 1991 (extracts).
• E Zola, L'Assommoir. Livre de poche.
• E Zola, La Cure. Livre de poche.