French and Francophone Studies PhD

University of Aberdeen

Investigating the rich diversity of French and Francophone cultures, histories and societies from the seventeenth century to the present day. Based in the School of Language, Literature, Music and Visual Culture, our expertise ranges from the literature, culture and society of the Grand Siècle through to the politics and culture of identity and migration in the contemporary Francophone world. Interdisciplinarity is a strength of our research, and we co-supervise many of our PhD students with colleagues in disciplines across the humanities and social sciences, including English, Film & Visual Culture, Music, Sociology and Spanish & Latin American Studies. Aberdeen’s research in French and Francophone Studies mines the complex interrelations of culture, society and politics across the centuries. Beginning with the literary and cultural history of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, our expertise spans visual culture, film and photography the history and memory of World War II, the politics and culture of identity and migration in the Francophone world, and the cultural history of French modernity. Other strengths include post-war critical theory, philosophy and thought, contemporary fiction, prose and poetry, and literary translation, including bilingual writing and self-translation. Working with colleagues across the School and beyond, we offer co-supervision in interdisciplinary and cross-cultural projects in areas including film, photography and visual culture comparative literature and culture early modern literature and thought and critical theory.

School of Language, Literature, Music and Visual Culture