Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Fall 2018 - HUM 340 D100

Great Cities in Their Time (4)

Paris

Class Number: 7603

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Sep 4 – Dec 3, 2018: Wed, 5:30–9:20 p.m.
    Vancouver

  • Exam Times + Location:

    Dec 5, 2018
    Wed, 7:00–10:00 p.m.
    Vancouver

  • Prerequisites:

    45 units.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

An exploration of the cultural and intellectual accomplishments of a specific city that achieved prominence in a particular time period, and had substantial impact and influence on human civilization. Examines the political, social, religious, and cultural factors that help to explain a city's significance and investigates the achievements of its citizens. Students may repeat this course for further credit under a different topic. Breadth-Humanities.

COURSE DETAILS:

Paris, Cultural Capital


Ready for a quick visit to Paris, France? In this course, we will explore the city as cultural tourists and see the most well-known monuments such as the Notre Dame, the Louvre, Versailles, and sites like the Place des Vosges and the Luxembourg Gardens. We will look at their historical, social and political context and the significant literary or artistic works of the time. We will spend considerable time on more recent history as well: the 19th Century which shaped Paris as the “Capital of the 19th Century” according to the critic Walter Benjamin, and developments in the 20th century that prepared Paris for our own time.

Grading

  • Midterm and final exams 40%%
  • Collaborative project 20%%
  • Paper (8 pages) 20%%
  • Active Participation and Presentation 20%%

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

Colin Jones, The biography of a City, Penguin Books, 2006.
ISBN: 9780143036715

Balzac, Old Goriot, Penguin Classics, 2011.
ISBN: 9780140449723

Eric Hazan The Invention of Paris, Verso, 2010.
ISBN: 1844677052

Selected short texts in Courseware

For art history, please consult online sites: 

  1. http://www.discoverfrance.net/France/Art/DF_art4.shtml
  2. http://smarthistory.khanacademy.org/1907-1960-Age-of-Global-Conflict.html

RECOMMENDED READING:

Chris van Uffelen and Markus, Golser, The Architecture Guide, Braun, 2013

Luc Sante, The Other Paris, Farrar, Strauss, Giroux, 2015.

Joan De Jean, How Paris became Paris, Bloomsbury, 2014.

David Harvey, PARIS, Capital of Modernity, Routledge, 2006.

Andrew Ayers, The Architecture of Paris, Editions Axel Menges, 2004.

Registrar Notes:

SFU’s Academic Integrity web site http://students.sfu.ca/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating.  Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.

Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the University community.  Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the University. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the University. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS