Paris Yesterday and Tomorrow

What you’ll learn

This course familiarizes students with the history, arts and culture of the city of Paris through an interactive and thematic approach based on three main modules: the city and its history; the literary and artistic representations of the city; and the city, its citizens, and its future. Students will learn about key moments in French history from the Romans onward, via the Middle Ages, the French Revolution, Haussmannization, and May 1968. This history will come alive through outings in the city and visits to museums, and will allow students to contextualize the city of Paris and French culture of today. The course will also explore Paris’ role in various artistic and literary movements, from the avant-gardes to literary modernism, as well as representations of the city in art, literature, music and cinema. Students will also be introduced to such themes as political migration and colonialism, and will explore the city from a variety of points of views including literary and artistic exchanges, urban history, architecture, and ecology. The final module of the course will examine how our study of the past informs our understanding of the present, and in particular what the future may hold for the city of Paris. 

Places you may explore

Students will traverse Parisian neighborhoods, Carnavalet Museum, Museum of Modern Art, Musée des Égouts, Museum of the History of Immigration, Museum of Jewish Art and History.

Supplies

While PCA provides the essential tools for the class to run, students provide their own supplies. A list of required materials will be shared on the summer student portal before the start of the program. Expenses for supplies are estimated at between €30 to €150.

Course highlight

Seeing the history of Paris come alive at the Musée Carnavalet (museum focused on the history of Paris), particularly in the largest collection of French Revolution.

Prerequisites

Open to all, no prerequisites. No prior experience is required.

When

Session 2 (June 29 – July 10), Monday – Friday, 9am – 5pm

Tuition Cost

Early Bird Rate (before January 31): 3 Credit: €2,500 | Audit: €1,700
Standard Rate (after January 31): 3 Credit: €2,900 | Audit: €1,950

Bundles

2 classes = 5% off tuition fees
3 classes = 10% off tuition fees