Class name: “When to Obey is to Betray. The French Resistance in Cinema and Literature”
Taught by: Visiting Assistant Professor of French and Francophone Studies Christophe Corbin
Says Corbin about his class:
This interdisciplinary course is designed for students interested in cinema, history, literature, and cultural studies. Students in the course examine the interplay between popular culture and collective memory, offering insights into France’s national identity and psyche. The course highlights the long-overlooked contributions of women, men of color, and foreigners to the French Resistance, providing a powerful example of how history can be rewritten. I hope students leave with sharpened critical thinking skills, a deeper understanding of a contentious period in modern French history, and the satisfaction of having discovered some beautiful works of fiction.
Corbin on why he wanted to teach this class:
I’ve always been fascinated by this chapter of French history, and by the 1940s in general, as they reveal both the best and worst of humanity and provide examples of admirable resilience. There is also something timeless and universal about the concept of resistance — when does “enough” become enough? At what point do ordinary people living ordinary lives choose to resist a situation deemed insufferable, and how do they go about it? I am also drawn to blind spots of history, and to stories that amplify the voices of those once silenced. I hope this course inspires students to reflect on the “silences of history” in their own countries as well.
Corbin on what makes this class unique:
While most courses in the department provide the cultural and historical context needed to understand the stories discussed in class, this course focuses on a period that is often neglected, even in France. By analyzing this era through various mediums — literature, cinema, comics, and television — we challenge conventional ideas of how France’s WWII experience is perceived in the collective consciousness.
The curriculum includes lesser-known works like Aragon’s wartime poetry, early films such as The Battle of the Rail, and the Oscar-nominated documentary The Sorrow and the Pity, alongside iconic novels like The Silence of the Sea, films like Army of Shadows, contemporary works such as The Black Terrorist, and the popular TV series A French Village. Spanning over half a century, the course illustrates France’s ongoing struggle to confront its past and shows how fiction can complement and bring history to life.