FRE 265 - Topics: Sporting Identities in the Francophone World (1)

How does soccer in Africa continue to show the impacts of colonization? How has sports-related migration impacted local and national teams? How does a national team’s roster affect ideas about a country’s identity? How can sports reinforce or disrupt gender performances? To begin to answer these questions, we will explore the intersections between sports and identities in places where French is spoken, giving special attention to the constructions of social categories such as gender, race, class, and sexuality. Examining a variety of literary and cultural texts, dating from the late 19th century to the present, we will investigate how and why sports have cultural meaning. Topics may include hockey in Québec, cycling’s Tour de France, and/or laamb (traditional Senegalese wrestling). No prior knowledge of sports or French is required. This course will be taught in English.

This course may be counted as an elective for the FRE major/minor, or an elective for the GSS major/minor. Prerequisite(s): Writing (W) course.
(Humanities) (Intercultural Literacy Intensive) (Writing Encounter)