Paris Urban Culture
What you’ll learn
French culture has never been more visible on the global stage. From massive electronic festival crowds to the most viral playlists on TikTok, it now crosses borders and language barriers with unprecedented ease. This global momentum is driven not only by streaming platforms, but also by artists’ ability to blend local influences—particularly from African cultures—with global sounds, aesthetics, and digital codes.
Artists like Aya Nakamura (Djadja, Copines), DJ Snake (Lean On, Taki Taki), GIMS (Sapés comme jamais, Bella), and Theodora (Fashion Designa, Kongolese sous BBL) illustrate how the French music scene now competes at a global level. Through their music, visuals, and collaborations, they have become key ambassadors of contemporary urban culture.
This influence extends beyond music. Figures such as Omar Sy, whose international success with Lupin on Netflix has reached global audiences, and Kylian Mbappé, one of the most influential athletes of his generation, demonstrate how French urban culture operates as a true “talent engine” across entertainment, sport, and media.
At its core, this course examines the cultural landscape of Parisian banlieues and explores how second-generation immigrants navigate intersecting identities—French, African, suburban, and global hip-hop culture. Students will analyze creative practices and entrepreneurial strategies of key figures such as Papou Moussa Dabo, while also investigating the tensions between cultural innovation, economic precarity, and mainstream visibility.
This course adopts a dynamic and immersive approach: students will listen to music, watch films, explore visual arts, and engage in structured discussions to better understand and interpret contemporary urban creations. It also examines how globalization and digital platforms have transformed local urban expressions—turning street culture, music, fashion, and graffiti into globally recognized forms of cultural power.
Places you may explore
Students will engage with sites in Paris and its banlieues that serve as hubs of cultural creativity—from street art locales and music venues to exhibitions and urban studios—allowing first-hand observation of the environments that shape the production of contemporary urban culture.
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
Study of Papou Moussa Dabo and African Armure, blending African identity, suburban style, and hip-hop aesthetics.
Analysis of the economic and cultural challenges faced by early streetwear entrepreneurs.
Exploration of urban storytelling through literature, film, and visual art, including works by Karim Madani, Keira Maameri, DJ Mehdi, and Bilal Hamdad.
Examination of globalization’s impact on urban culture, including both homogenization and innovation.
Investigation of street art’s institutional recognition and its transformation from vandalism to celebrated urban visual practice.
Prerequisites
No prior experience in fashion, music, or urban studies is required. Students should have a curiosity for cultural studies, contemporary art, and social dynamics in urban environments, along with an interest in exploring Paris’s diverse creative scenes.
Paris Urban Culture will be taught as a bilingual (French/English) course. Familiarity with French is strongly recommended. The instructor will adapt his teaching according to the language preferences of the enrolled students.
When
Session 3 (July 13 – July 24), Monday – Friday, 9am – 5:45pm
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
