Special Topics in French Culture

FRENCH 3501

Before horror movies, television series, and graphic novels, zombies were part of a tradition of Caribbean folklore. The figure of the zombie finds its roots in colonial Haiti where enslaved Africans found meaning in a mythical figure who no longer possessed its own body but belonged to others, instead. Spirits, magic, and sorcery are also indelible parts of the same folk traditions to which the zombie belongs in Guadeloupe, Haiti, and Martinique. This course will expose students to the cultural histories of zombies, vampires, spirits and spiritual practice in the French Caribbean through film, literature, and contemporary Caribbean art. We will pay particular attention to how these figures and histories work to undo and question legacies of colonialism, racial capitalism, sexism, homophobia, and everyday political violence. This course satisfies the In-Depth requirement. Prereq: In-Perspective or Fr 308.
Course Attributes: BU IS

Section 01

Special Topics in French Culture
INSTRUCTOR: Dize
View Course Listing - FL2023