Paris: the Birth of Modernism

Paris: the Birth of Modernism
A Lamar Study Abroad Program in Paris, France
Summer Session I – 2014 – 6 credits
Scholarships available for Lamar students
Contact: Professor Richard Gachot
[email protected] 512.644.5809
Paris: the Birth of Modernism
A Lamar Study Abroad Program
Course Description:
This study abroad program will introduce students to the political, economic, and
cultural revolutions occurring in Paris during the 19th and 20th century that led to the
birth of Modernism. Through the study of seminal works in painting (Manet to Picasso),
urbanism (Haussmann to la Défense), architecture (social housing to la Villette),
interior design (19th century Passages to Le Corbusier’s Villa Savoie), reading (Charles
Baudelaire’s Les Fleurs du mal to Nadja by André Breton) and film (Man Ray’s Les
Mystères du Château de Dé to Jean-Luc Godard’s A Bout de Souffle), participants will
explore how prevalent cultural paradigms have shifted from the crystallization of
bourgeois culture in the 19th century to our contemporary post-modern world. Paris is
seen as a laboratory for the continuing ideal of Modernism, a model for the Western
world for over 200 years in both intellectual discourse and the arts.
The seminar consists of a 14-day trip to Paris, France with a two-day preparatory
introduction on the Lamar campus. Walking tours will complement Museum visits.
Students will share apartments in central Paris each with private kitchen and bathroom
facilities. Estimated cost of trip with Lamar tuition for 6 credits is $4000 (excluding food
and airfare). Tour will be lead by Lamar professor Richard Gachot, who is fluent in
French, has dual American-French citizenship and has led two previous Study Abroad
trips to Paris and one Study America trip to NYC.
Lamar Study Abroad Program
6 credits (2x3-cr. hrs.)
Semester: Summer I – 2014
Dates: May 15-31
Contact: Richard Gachot
[email protected]
(512) 644.5809
This trip will divide the birth of Modernism into six formative epochs:
1) The Ancien Régime: Cake and Revolution
Film: Marie Antoinette (2006)
(Days 1 & 2)
Reading: Claude Perrault
Walking tour: Place des Vosges, Place Vendome, Place de la Concorde
Museums: The Louvre, Palace of Versailles
2) Paris Capital of the 19th Century
Film: Children of Paradise (1945)
(Days 3 & 4)
Reading: Walter Benjamin
Walking tour: Arcades, Pere Lachaise, Grand Magasins, Eiffel Tower
Museums: Musée d’Orsay, Rodin Museum
3) Early Modernism
Film:
(Days 5 & 6)
Midnight in Paris (2011)
Reading: Gertrude Stein
Walking tour: Montparnasse, Montmartre, Place des Abesses, Guimard Metros
Museums: Musée Picasso, Centre Pompidou, Musée des Arts Decoratifs
4) Heroic Modernism
Film:
(Days 7 & 8)
Les Mystères du Chateau de Dé (1929) Reading: Le Corbusier
Walking tour: Villa la Roche, Rue Mallet-Stevens, Tzara House
Museums: Museum of the 1930’s, City of Architecture
5) Existentialism to May 68
Film:
Breathless (1960)
(Days 9 & 10)
Reading: Sartre
Walking tour: Saint Germain des Prés, Champs Elysées, La Defense, Shakespeare &
Co., Montparnasse Tower
Museums: Pompidou Center (return)
6) Paris Post Modern: Neo vs. Retro
Film:
Amélie (2001) Adele Blanc Sec (2010)
(Days 11 & 12)
Reading: Baudrillard & Cyper-Punk
Walking tour: Mitterrand: Louvre Pyramid, La Villete Park (Tschumi), BNP
Museums: Quai Branly (Jean Nouvel), Cartier Foundation (Jean Nouvel)
…and of course French food, cafes, shopping and simply Paris!