Department of French and Italian

The emergence of electricity, in particular electric light, in the 19^th century was seen as a wonder, to the point where electricity itself came to be personified by a female figure: the Fairy Electricity. Similarly, Thomas Edison, the alleged inventor of the electric light bulb in 1878, was known as “the Wizard of Menlo Park” and widely celebrated for his inventions, notably at the International Exhibition of Electricity in Paris in 1781. The wonders of electricity also had a major influence on 19^th-century French literature and the arts, contributing to the development of science fiction, the use of electric light in the performing arts, and the invention of cinema. In this seminar we will read and analyze several science fiction novels, from Jules Verne’s Paris au xx^e siècle (1860) to Albert Robida’s La Vie électrique (1892), through Villiers de l’Isle-Adam’s L’Ève future (1886), as well as several poems and essays, all influenced by the emergence of electricity, and which foreshadow in many ways the innovations of our digital age. Students are expected to develop a personal research project, give a presentation, and write a final paper. Reading and discussion will be in French.

FRIT-F 545    #33572      4:00P-6:00P       Tu       BH 139         Prof. Nicolas Valazza