French Travel Writing

This subject examines how travel writing translates the world into words, and as such is a key to understanding international relations and intercultural communication. Focusing mainly on contemporary texts but also referring to classical French travel literature, it introduces students to a wide range of fictional and non-fictional travel narratives in French set in various geographical locations. Texts range from explorer’s accounts to contemporary travel tales, together with examples from comics (Tintin), cinema, fiction and journalism. Students are encouraged to pursue reading and

• 1Demonstrate familiarity with the dominant trends in theory and practice of travel writing in French
• 2Analyse the intercultural, (post)colonial and geopolitical issues presented in travel writing
• 3Examine the significance of travel writing for international relations and intercultural communication
• 4Produce critical travel writing in French for online media
• 5Produce a critical research essay on travel writing in French
• 6Compile an annotated bibliography demonstrating capacity for critical research on travel writing in French.