La francophonie entre mémoire(s) et histoire(s)

In his eponymous book, Michael Rothberg proposes the concept “multidirectional memory” as a framework for rethinking memories of the Holocaust in the era of decolonization. Rothberg’s model, which understands memory as “subject to ongoing negotiation, cross-referencing, and borrowing,” is a direct response to the notion of collective memory as fundamentally competitive in nature or, in Rothberg’s words, as a “zero-sum” game.

This seminar uses Rothberg’s model as a jumping-off point for a wide-ranging conversation about Francophone “memories and histories” as they are depicted and produced in a selection of novels, feature films, and documentaries. The corpus, which includes works from Algeria, Tunisia, Mauritius, the Caribbean, and France, represents a trio of interrelated concerns: lived experiences on the putative “margins” of the Holocaust; entangled discourses and memories related to colonization and WWII; and the residue of these experiences in contemporary, multi-ethnic France. Ultimately, the seminar seeks to probe the benefits and pitfalls of a “multidirectional” approach to reading memory, and to experiment with other possible models.

In addition to exposing participants to a range of cultural texts, including lesser-known and often under-studied novels and films, the goal of the seminar is to provide a space in which to hone practices of close textual analysis, historicized interpretation, and theoretical engagement.

This course functions according to the principle of the seminar, which implies prior preparation and active participation by all. Attendance is not only compulsory, it’s essential. Each participant will give a presentation in class and write a final essay (modalities of this final paper to be determined).