Writing Across Cultures

After completing Amelie and the writing exercise, please get into groups of 4-5 and read Sartre 's No Exit . Jean-Paul Sartre (21 June 1905 – 15 April 1980) was a French existentialist philosopher, playwright, novelist, screenwriter, political activist, biographer, and literary critic. He was one of the leading figures in 20th century French philosophy. In 1964 he was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature, but declined it stating: "It is not the same thing if I sign Jean-Paul Sartre or if I sign Jean-Paul Sartre, Nobel Prize winner. A writer must refuse to allow himself to be transformed into an institution, even if it takes place in the most honorable form." He is one of last century's greatest existentialists (the branch of philosophy that seeks to answer the question: what is the meaning of life?) As you read, consider Sartre's answer. For modern humans, he may be right. No Exit is Sartre's best known play. Only one act, the play epitomizes the va...

Today we will finish watching Amelie by Jean-Pierre Jeunet Please turn in your homework (see previous posts).

After reading a short selection from Andre Malroux 's Anti-Memoirs we will read and discuss (and write an exercise) based on Raymond Queneau 's Exercises in Style . Exercises in Style: 1. Write a short succinct story about "modern" life. This should be nothing more than a short anecdote. In fact, you can title the first entry anecdote. Or Writing Exercise. 2. Rewrite the same short story at least five more times (total of 6, but you can do more if you'd like) using any of the following writing "Styles": Metaphor Simile Personification Alliterative Anagrams Formal Slang Onomatopoeia Past Tense Present Tense Future Tense Passive Sonnet Alexandrine Exclamations Epic Heroic Cockney Cross Examination Five Act Play Summary Tragedy Comedy Introspective Subjective Objective Apostrophe Awkward Syntax Biased Olfactory Ode Elegy Haiku Villanelle Sestina Journalistic Accented (pick an accent) Mathematical Neoclassical (Age ...

Please read the article on the French New Wave. Please watch and comment on the following clips/films regarding French cinema (due Monday). Feel free to use any of these ideas for your own short film projects. The French have greatly influenced the invention and continuation of film and the film industry. From the Lumiere Brothers, George Melies, and the Pathe Frere company, French culture impacted the progression of the film industry. Compared to Hollywood films, French films are known for their slower pace, their character development, and, of course, the occasional bout of surrealism. Some critics account that Modern Film theory was born in France. The film makers Jean-Luc Godard, Francois Truffaut, and Andre Bazin, Robert Bresson made films that would be termed the French New Wave . The French New Wave influenced American cinema through the 1960's and beyond. Godard : Breathless (1960) Truffaut: The 400 Blows trailer (1959), 400 Blows - Scene . Robert Bresson's L...

The Red Balloon, part one The Red Balloon, part two The Red Balloon, part three Albert Lamorisse's childhood fantasy film won the best original screenplay in 1956 and was a featured favorite at the Cannes film festival . Watch the film. You may also repond to this, as you would respond to the French contemporary material below.

Today please work in the lab to complete the following: 1. The portfolio (please include all creative writing work from this marking period: the surrealistic project, various poems based on Spanish writers, a fairy tale or dramatic monologue, the French narrative poem assignment, and any other writing.) 2. Include a revision of one of your drafts in your portfolio. 3. Read: the French contemporary packet (we may start this 2nd period) HOMEWORK: Read and complete the French contemporary writing packet. Pick one poem or short story or a combination of these things (steal a line, use a word spill, borrow a character, write a similiar theme/setting, borrow an idea, create a found piece, etc.) and write a 1-3 page something. Ideas: write a critique of one of the poets (Anne-Marie Albiach, Jacques Roubaud, Philippe Denis) in the style of a book review for a magazine, write literary criticism, take a theme or idea from one of the poems/stories and write a personal creative essay, t...

After our quiz and discussion of Candide , please complete the following task: 1. Take one of your previously written pieces for this class and revise the first or subsequent draft. You should include your first draft(s) along with the new one. Due: Friday, March 18. Please hand in your narrative poem drafts today.

Today, please work on your narrative poem draft. You should have a completed draft by the end of class. Please turn in your draft. French Surrealist: Andre Breton His manifesto on Surrealism can be found and read here . After reading a little bit about him, take a look at some of his poems . And more French surrealistic poetry . These samples may help you figure out what sorts of things you can do with your surrealistic project. Work on it. HOMEWORK: Complete Candide (test and discussion next class). Read about Andre Breton (above). Write a surrealistic piece of writing for your "portfolio".

Narrative poetry and/or writing project After our discussion, take a few minutes to brainstorm what you want to write about. Pick a part of French History and research it a bit. Decide on a setting and characters. Keep your setting specific as much as possible. Remember weather and time is as much a setting as is location. Try also to limit yourself to one or two characters to keep it simpler; characters can be based on yourself or someone you know, from history, or from your imagination. Write down specific details about your setting and character(s) that recall the five senses. Make a list of these senses and brainstorm. Write down ideas for a major conflict and/or event in the poem. Keep in mind your setting and character(s). Break your ideas up into four to six different sections. You might have a description of the character(s), a setting description, what the character(s) is doing, and a beginning, middle, and end of the event/conflict the character(s) is involved in. ...

Deism: philosophical belief that a supreme being created the universe, and that this (and religious truth in general) can be determined using reason and observation of the natural world alone, without the need for either faith or organized religion. Deists often reject the notion that God intervenes in human affairs, for example through miracles and revelations. Deists typically reject most supernatural events (prophecy, miracles) and tend to assert that God (or "The Supreme Architect") has a plan for the universe that is not altered either by God intervening in the affairs of human life or by suspending the natural laws of the universe. Age of Reason (Age of Enlightenment): An eighteenth-century movement that followed the mysticism, religion, and superstition of the Middle Ages and Renaissance as scientific theory and invention advanced technology significantly. People's previously held beliefs were challenged often in written form; fears of being labeled a heretic or ...

Philosophes: A group of philosophers who believed that philosophy was an important means of bringing about progress and change. • criticized church authority and aristocratic privilege • transformed French society and culture • paved the way for the French Revolution • Created the first Encyclopedia (17 volumes covering science, art and trade) edited by Denis Diderot (1713-1784) • Charles Louis, Baron de Montesquieu (1689-1755) • People can develop laws that are reasonable if they have the freedom to do so • Reasonable laws for one society may be different from those of another • (the Idea that what is good or bad on the way a particular society works is Relativism ) • Opposed to despotism (absolute power of the monarchy) - Louis XIV • Government should allow people as much freedom as possible • Strong influence on the U.S. Constitution (separation of powers) Francois Marie Arouet de Voltaire (1694-1778) • Outspoken critic of religious intolerance • Voltaire is a deis...