French 286 - Invisible Minority: Chinese Culture in France

A reference to the French phrase 'minorité visible,' this course’s title highlights the recurrent critique from East Asians in France that theirs is a forgotten minority group. To understand this critique, we trace the history of exoticized representations of Chinese culture in France from the 17th century to the present. We then turn to recent literary works by Chinese diasporic writers to consider how they represent their native cultures for a French audience amidst China’s shift in status on the global stage. Finally, we examine images of Asian culture in contemporary French media and popular culture.