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BA History and French / Course details

Year of entry: 2021

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Course unit details:
Protest Music in France

Unit code	FREN30002
Credit rating	20
Unit level	Level 3
Teaching period(s)	Semester 2
Offered by	French Studies
Available as a free choice unit?	Yes

Overview

This course unit examines different expressions of ‘protest’ in French popular music from the 1950s to the present, with an emphasis on four different artists, genres and issues: the chanson singer-songwriter Georges Brassens and anti-Establishment, the versatile pop producer Serge Gainsbourg and provocation, the gangsta rap group NTM and racial representation, and the newcomer Eddy de Pretto and queer identity. After introductory sessions on popular music theory and the cultural significance of the notion of ‘protest’ in 20^th-century France, the course locates each artist, their songs and critical reception, in their historical, ideological, social, ethnic and sexual context. The lectures gradually incorporate the notions of ‘authenticity’, ‘prestige’, ‘performance’, ‘stardom’, ‘gender’ (especially masculinity) and ‘ethnicity’, in order to critically evaluate the success of these artists in France. In seminars, we focus on specific songs in an interdisciplinary manner, combining the analysis of primary material (lyrics, music, live and video performance, interviews), with the close reading of secondary texts (academic criticism). Every two weeks, the seminars also offer methodological guidance for the completion of the music reviews and/or podcasts, and the coursework.

Pre/co-requisites

This unit is available as free choice with knowledge of the target language.

Aims

To know and recognize major music artists of 20^th- and 21^st-c. France, and understand their cultural meaning (success, prestige, legacy);
To reflect critically on the notions of ‘authenticity’ and ‘protest’, and the values of high/low culture, words and music, live and mediated performance;
To analyse popular songs semiotically and to situate the success of singers in a clear historical, intellectual and aesthetic context, using an interdisciplinary methodology;
To understand and use appropriate concepts for the analysis of popular songs (critical theory, performance, gender, identity, production, reception, etc).

Knowledge and understanding

To know major music artists of 20^th and 21^st c. France and understand their meaning in French culture;
To analyse popular songs and singers in an interdisciplinary manner;
To appreciate the paradox that anti-Establishment values can have vast commercial success and legimitate recognition;
To use and understand appropriate concepts for the analysis of popular songs (critical theory, performance, gender, identity, production, reception, etc).
To disseminate their findings to both a general and specialist audience (via music review, podcast, scholarly essay)

Intellectual skills

To define and manipulate concepts and methodologies mainly drawn from Cultural Studies;
To understand popular music as a semiotic system making sense through lyrics, music, star image, critical discourse, audience reception, and so on;
To evaluate critically the notions of ‘cultural identity’ and ‘national culture’;
To analyse and critically evaluate the construction of a national music culture in contemporary France.

Practical skills

Reading, writing and speaking fluently in sophisticated French; likewise in English.
To structure, research and write an essay individually;
To prepare, record and upload an audiovisual podcast, individually or as part of a team;
To carry out independent research;
To participate in class discussions in French and English.

Transferable skills and personal qualities

By the end of this course students will be able to:

Engage in independent reflection and enquiry.
Analyse sources and cultural meaning, and provide a synthesis of their findings.
Carefully formulate a research question, and structure an answer in a logical manner.
Use a recording software.
Write in formal French and/or English.
Participating in group discussions in French and English
Engage in group discussion.
Work as part of a team.

Employability skills

Other: The course will have particular benefits for students interested in pursuing a career in teaching and learning, (music) journalism, social services and diversity, as well as qualitative data analysis. The course enhances skills of analysis, synthesis, oral presentation and written reporting. The course content also encourages students to reflect upon the world outside of University, thereby providing confidence in the use of rigorous academic research in a variety of non-academic environments.

Assessment methods

Music review or podcast

30%

Essay

70%

Feedback methods

Formative, individual, in-class oral remarks on students’ participation and understanding.
Specialist IT support for students choosing to record podcasts
Formative, individual written comments on the students’ draft outline for their music reviews and coursework.
Summative, individual written comments on the music reviews and podcasts.
Further individual, face-to-face feedback on the coursework if desired, by appointment.
And finally, summative and individual written feedback on the coursework.

Study hours

Scheduled activity hours
Lectures	22
Seminars	11

Independent study hours
Independent study	167

Teaching staff

Staff member	Role
Barbara Lebrun	Unit coordinator

Additional notes

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