SCFC785

Camus at 100: Rebellion, Solidarity, and Death

The centenary of the birth of Albert Camus (1913–1960) will inspire our survey of the French writer’s major works as we attempt to understand how his personal contradictions found meaning in some of the mid-20th century’s most compelling writings.

We will begin with the story of his life in poverty in French colonial Algeria, move to his being awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1957, and then discuss his major philosophical ideas: absurdism and revolt. We will explore how these affect his fiction, giving particular attention to the treatment of character. Lastly, we will consider how his works variously derive from, and comment on, the history of the Europe, France, and Algeria of his time.

Please note that enrolment in this course is reserved for adults 55+.

This course is available at the following time(s) and location(s):

Section	Session(s)	Date/time	Campus	Instructor(s)	Cost	Registration
SCFC785-VA1137	6	Wednesday Oct 23–Nov 27 1:30–3:20 pm	Van	Jorge Calderón	$104	Register

What will I learn?

Week 1: Albert Camus’s Life and Times

From colonial Algeria to metropolitan France, from communism and anarchism to the French resistance, from existentialism to absurdism, and from poverty to worldwide literary celebrity, the life of Albert Camus (1913–1960) was truly a fascinating journey. We will explore his family background, relationships and early death.

Week 2: Thinking about Philosophy

We will discuss Camus main philosophical ideas, explained in two long essays, “The Myth of Sisyphus” (1942) and “The Rebel” (1951). In the first, he tried to understand the purpose and meaning of life, outlining an “absurdist” position; in the second, he explored the idea of revolution.

Week 3: Writing about Women

The representation of women in Camus’s fiction is problematic. We will try to understand the way in which Camus describes his female characters, the relations between men and women in his books, and also how important female characters are in Camus’s world-view.

Week 4: Writing about Men

Camus’ fictional world is a “man’s world.” Men face struggles and thus need to build community through male bonding. Camus’s point of view about human relations can be idealistic and Manichaean: the best men are your friends, the worst your enemies.

Week 5: Literature and History

Can a novel be read as a historical document? Can a history book be read as a literary work? How can the reader make a difference between literature and history? What does The Stranger tell us about French colonialism in Algeria? And what does The Plague tell us about the Second World War?

Week 6: Postcolonial Readings

Once Algerian nationalist groups opposed French colonial rule, the Pieds-Noirs kept supporting the political and economic inequalities. For that reason, Camus’s works have been read as colonial archives. Postcolonial critics have emphasized how his world-view is informed by imperialist doctrines.

How will I learn?

Discussion
Required reading
Papers (applicable only to certificate students)

Who should take this course?

This course is for anyone who is interested in learning about the life and works of the 20th-century French writer Albert Camus.

How will I be evaluated?

(For certificate students only)

Your instructor will evaluate you based on an essay you will complete at the end of the course. You will receive a grade of “satisfactory” or “unsatisfactory.”

Textbooks and learning materials

Reading material (if applicable) will be available in class. Some course materials may be available online.