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Postcolonial Literatures in French

Postcolonial Literatures in French. Dr Georgina Collins. 5 October 2011. Objectives. to provide an overview of France’s colonial history to understand the broad cultural and linguistic impact of this historical period

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Postcolonial Literatures in French

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  1. Postcolonial Literatures in French Dr Georgina Collins 5 October 2011

  2. Objectives • to provide an overview of France’s colonial history • to understand the broad cultural and linguistic impact of this historical period • to learn new vocabulary associated with “Francophonie” and Postcolonial Studies • to gain knowledge of the context in which Francophone literature is written

  3. French Colonial Timeline • expansion begins in sixteenth century • colonialism becomes a real national project in the Third Republic (1870-1940) • most important territorial gains are between 1875 and 1940

  4. The Slave Trade • 1444 – first slaves brought to Portugal from Mauritania • 1640 – large-scale trade and use of slave labour • Sugar plantations • The Americas, including the Caribbean

  5. The Americas • first French colonial possessions • left significant linguistic traces, eg: • Canada – 2nd national language • (majority in Quebec) • French Antilles – official language • By the beginning of 19th • century, France loses grip on • many of its American • possessions

  6. The Conquest of Algeria • first invasion in 1830 • lengthy period of conquest • greatest number of French settlers • defeat against Prussia • a way to avenge Alsace Lorraine • regaining prestige

  7. La ‘Mission Civilisatrice’ • Throughout the Third Republic • French colonial ideology • the country’s duty was to bring • civilisation and modernisation to • ‘backward’ communities • inhabitants of the • colonies – inferior / • primitive

  8. Jules Ferry and the Colonial Idea • Prime Minister of France • promoted the vast extension of the French • colonial empire • policy of colonial expansion: • a political system • an economic strategy • far-reaching ideas of civilisation

  9. Tirailleurs Sénégalais • ‘Indigènes’ conscripted into French battalions • rapprochement between France and its colonies • Expressions in official discourse • La Grande France • La France de 100 millions d’habitants

  10. After World War I • Interwar period – golden age of French imperialism • Authorities failed to: • improve lives of the ‘indigènes’ • bridge the gap between the colonisers and colonised • After WWII – they were granted more rights, but too late • Post-war period – gradual decolonisation

  11. Francophonie • Coined by Onésime Reclus (French geographer) • 1880 • France, Algerie et les colonies • Strong advocate of French colonialism • Colonialism – would promote prestige and use of the French language worldwide

  12. The French Language “…Empire d’Afrique, Madagascar, Indo-Chine semblent nous garantir la perpétuité, ce qui veut dire […] la longue continuité de notre idiome. Il cessera d’être la langue faussement dite universelle; […] il deviendra le verbe de centaines de millions d’hommes de toute origine. En dehors de l’île de Hovas et de la presqu’île des Annamites, il résonnera sur les deux rives de la Méditerranée, et aussi sur les deux bords de l’Atlantique” (Reclus, Le plus beau royaume sous le ciel. 842.)

  13. This Course • Sub-Saharan Africa • The Maghreb • The French Caribbean • Canada • Also note: • Continental Francophonie • Indochina

  14. Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (firstly ACCT) • intergovernmental agency • promotes French–speaking cultures • brings together users of the French language • created after decolonisation • perpetuate cultural links between France and former colonies

  15. Francophone Cultures • Jean-Marc Léger – 1st Secretary General of ACCT • ACCT – Agence de Cooperation Culturelle et Technique • Later – Agence de la Francophonie • Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie • France reluctant to embrace project • Almost 2000 conferences to promote Francophonie worldwide

  16. The OIF and Francophonie Today “une communauté spirituelle de nations qui emploient le français, que celui-ci soit langue nationale, langue officielle ou bien langue d’usage” • 56 member states • 19 observers • Political club • Allows least powerful to have a voice • Argued that France uses it to pursue neo-imperialistic policies

  17. Spreading the Word • 220 million French speakers worldwide • 9th most widely-spoken language on the planet • 96.2 million French-speakers in Africa • French-speaking zone accounts for 19% of world trade in goods • French is an official language in 32 IOF member states

  18. TV5 • Global Francophone TV network • 3rd largest TV network in the world • Reaches 215 million homes • Accessible in around 200 countries and territories • 8 regional channels • Subtitling in 13 languages • Available online

  19. Francophone Literatures • Historical context • Unique language and style • Unique viewpoint • Culturally embedded • Politically charged • Western ideology / distancing from Western ideology • Dominated by male literature until decolonisation and independence

  20. Summary • historical overview of France’s colonial history • Slave trade • Colonisation • Decolonisation • Francophone world today • cultural and linguistic impact of this historical period • new vocabulary (DOM/TOM/Mission Civilisatrice) • the context in which Francophone literature is written

  21. Questions and Comments?

  22. Seminar – part 1 • What have you learnt from the lecture? • Give your name • One piece of information • An explanation

  23. Seminar – part 2 • The Queen’s Empire • Analyse, critique and discuss the images • Answer the questions on your seminar sheet

  24. Seminar – part 3 • Essaisurl’inégalité des races humaines (Gobineau) • Analyse the vocabulary and content • Answer the questions on your • seminar sheet

  25. Don’t forget to prepare for next week! The seminar questions are on your handout

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