Department of French and Italian

This class introduces contemporary culture in France from the perspective of the country’s highly secular, “color-blind” approach to immigration. We examine the integration of various immigrant groups from the early modern period to the present (e.g. European Jews, residents of its former colonies, citizens of the European Union), comparing it to the more multi-cultural approach to diversity found in the U.S.  

Students demonstrate their understanding of the complexities of French “melting pot” traditions and their effects on society in general—as well as the ability to compare and contrast these traditions with American approaches—through oral, written, and videotaped reports based on class materials and individual research.