Postcolonial Literatures in French

Dr Georgina Collins5 October 2011

• 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

Objectives

• 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

French Colonial Timeline

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

The Slave Trade

• 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

The Americas

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

The Conquest of Algeria

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

• 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

Jules Ferry and the Colonial Idea

• ‘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

Tirailleurs Sénégalais

• 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

After World War I

• 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

Francophonie

“…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.)

The French Language

• Sub-Saharan Africa• The Maghreb• The French Caribbean• Canada

Also note:• Continental Francophonie• Indochina

This Course

• intergovernmental agency • promotes French–speaking cultures• brings together users of the French language• created after decolonisation• perpetuate cultural links between France and former colonies

Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (firstly ACCT)

• 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

Francophone Cultures

“une communauté spirituelle de nations qui emploient le français, que celui-ci soit langue nationale, langue officielle ou bien langue d’usage”

The OIF and Francophonie Today

• 56 member states• 19 observers• Political club• Allows least powerful to have a voice• Argued that France uses it to pursue neo-imperialistic policies

• 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

Spreading the Word

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

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

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

Questions and Comments?

Seminar – part 1

What have you learnt from the lecture?

•Give your name•One piece of information•An explanation

Seminar – part 2

The Queen’s Empire

•Analyse, critique and discuss the images•Answer the questions on your seminar sheet

Seminar – part 3

Essai sur l’inégalité des races humaines (Gobineau)

•Analyse the vocabulary and content•Answer the questions on your seminar sheet

Don’t forget to prepare for next

week!

The seminar questions are on your handout