Thinking-It-Through

Since the Paris Agreement (2015), France has emerged as a leader on the international stage in favor of sustainable development. What ecological strategies has France implemented, and what political and economic obstacles might limit its success (its dependence on nuclear energy, for example)? We will study the birth of environmental awareness in France under Louis XIV through art and literature: the protection of the water and forests ("eaux et forêts") in the 17th century to counter the threat of deforestation, up to the present creation of a dedicated Ministry of Ecology. We will analyze the evolution of the concept of nature and the role of artists in the defense of the right to a healthy environment. Whether a wilderness to be domesticated (Versailles) or contemplated (Rousseau), nature is gradually perceived as a space to be protected (from the impressionist painters to Melanie Laurent's film DEMAIN). Students will acquire the vocabulary to debate ecological issues, drawing inspiration from French and Francophone models to find new solutions to environmental challenges. Prereq: In-Perspective.
Course Attributes: EN H; BU IS; AS HUM; AS LCD; FA HUM; AR HUM

Thinking-It-Through

FRENCH 360

Section 01