Uproar Over Desecration of the French Flag

The French have a different relationship with their national flag than Americans have with ours'. While the French can be just as patriotic as the most red-blooded American, the Tricolor flag is not nearly as ubiquitous as the Stars and Stripes are here. It is almost unheard of for the French flag to be displayed on private homes, bumper stickers, t-shirts, or lapel pins. This has nothing to do with national pride, just with where the French draw the line between the state and the personal. Still, the flag has a lot of historical and emotional significance as is evident from this story about a man who apparently wiped his backside with the flag.

Spring '10 Final Exam

Directions: Answer 2 of the following questions in essay form using the same style guidelines as for the research paper. An adequate answer will be 4 pages minimum. Your grade will be based on how well your response uses evidence from the assigned readings. Exams will be due between noon and 1pm on Wednesday of Finals Week at a location TBA (our classroom might be occupied). I will only accept hardcopies. No email attachments please.

1) Describe the social, economic, cultural, and political factors that contributed to the Enlightenment in France. What were some of the new values that came with the Enlightenment? In what ways did the Enlightenment contribute to the Revolution?

2) The central theme of this class has been the development of a sense of "Frenchness" that overrides regional particularism. How did the French Revolution contribute to this development? What other factors after 1800 contributed to this process? What are some of the challenges the French face today in keeping this sense of "Frenchness"?

3) Since the Revolution, France has seen two monarchies (Bourbon and Orlean) two empires (Napoleon I and III), and is currently in its Fifth Republic. Discuss.

Paper Guidelines

It was brought to my attention that the link on the syllabus to the paper guidelines is broken. Until I am able to fix it, you can click here to access the guidelines.

Matisse Retrospective

The Chicago Art Institute has an exhibit of Henri Matisse's early works that shows how he developed into one of the masters of modernism. This interactive article from the Daily Beast shows some of the highlights of this exhibition.