Paris Noir: Literature, Art, & Contemporary Life in Diaspora
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What You Need to Know
Paris Noir is James Baldwin, Josephine Baker, Aime Cesaire, Chester Himes, Richard Wright, Jessie Fauset, and Jake Lamar. Paris Noir is an amazing five-week program that involves its participants and exposes them to an unforgettable international experience. This program is intended for students of all disciplines, cultures and nationalities who wish to examine the strong influence Black cultures have had on Paris and the world. The seminar encourages you to explore the theme from a variety of disciplinary stances. You’ll exchange ideas with some of the most influential Black artists, writers, scholars, journalists and community activists, as well as people from the world of politics, fashion, and music. Like a jazz composition, the seminar is arranged to convey variations and diverse interpretations of the Paris Noir theme. The Paris Noir seminar meets at the famous Café de Flore.
A student's prespective on the program: "My time in Paris was truly a wonderful learning experience. I got the opportunity to really immerse myself into another culture. I discovered so many things about myself and other people like how to grow as an individual and work within a collective group. For example, it was such a cool feeling to ride the metro by myself. In addition, I met so many different influential individuals including scholars and artists. From day one, we were taught they we were not tourists, but 'international students on the move.' By the end of our seminar, I had truly become that. I will really miss my Paris Noir cohorts."
Students must take both of the following courses:
Paris Noir Seminar in Literature, Art and Contemporary Life in Diaspora
(AAS 400/600, ETS 400, LLL 400/600, WSG 400/600, 3 credits, undergraduate and graduate)
The seminar opens with "On Becoming Paris Noir," a comprehensive overview of historical, social and political forces in the United States and Caribbean, and larger global events in Europe and Africa that generated African American presence in Paris over the past three centuries. Our initial explorations will include Sally Hemings in the 18th century; William Wells Brown, Frederick Douglass and Victor Séjour in the 19th century; and in the 20th century, African American soldiers, and icons such as Leroi Haynes, Josephine Baker, and James Baldwin.
"On Becoming Paris Noir" also involves discussion of the history of an African Diaspora in Paris. Tours to Paris Noir historical landmarks, visits to the Louvre and Picasso museums, an African market and restaurant are key components of the seminar introduction.
As the seminar develops, the accent shifts to the Paris Noir of today, with analysis and discussion of books, visual and performing arts, music, and wide ranging work and perspectives of leading personalities, scholars, working artists and activists living in Paris. Critical reading of literary and cultural texts, analytical thinking, and lively exchange of ideas are important seminar components. In the true essence of jazz improvisation, you’ll enjoy impromptu meetings with legendary figures like the poet Sonia Sanchez, jazz great Archie Shepp, and members of the amazing Alvin Ailey Dance Company.
Independent Study
(AAS, 490/690/ETS 490/WSP490/690, 3 credits, undergraduate and graduate)
This course requires independent research. Students are encouraged to pursue their own academic interests. In consultation with the Paris Noir faculty director, students select a topic related to the course content; engage in research in Paris; and submit a research paper or project within two months after completion of the seminar. Graduate Student papers are to be commensurate with graduate studies.
Janis A. Mayes is a professor in the Department of African American Studies, with a courtesy appointment in the Department of Languages, Literatures and Linguistics [French], and affiliate faculty of the Women's and Gender Studies Department in the College of Arts and Sciences at Syracuse University. She earned her B.A. degree in French literature from Fisk University and M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in French Studies from Brown University, Certificate from the Institut des Professeurs de Français à l'Etranger, at the Université de Paris, La Sorbonne. A literary critic, literary translator, and Fulbright scholar, she has extensive research and travel experience abroad, especially in France, Côte d'Ivoire and Senegal. She is former President of the African Literature Association.
Her areas of specialization are francophone African/Diaspora literatures, international Black women's writing, and literary translation studies. This emphasis is reflected in her scholarship, notably: The City Where No One Dies; The Blind Kingdom; A Rain of Words: A Bi-lingual Anthology of Women's Poetry in Francophone Africa (ed. Irene d'Almeida); Mapping Intersections: African Literature and Africa's Development (edited with Anne Adams), and Transatlantic Translation (SALT) into Black Literary Passage: Toni Morrison, Véronique Tadjo, and Bernard Dadié in translation, her current work-in-progress.
Students are encouraged to contact Professor Mayes at her e-mail address: jamayes@syr.edu.
Paris Noir Seminar is open to undergraduate and graduate students in all disciplines.
Students are required to:
- participate actively in weekly meetings on required readings assignments, guest lectures and panels; visit Paris Noir cultural landscapes and historical landmarks, and attend field trips outside the city limits to the "banlieu" and other places.
- make one oral seminar presentation
- maintain a detailed daily journal
- take a mid-term exam
- submit completed journal (described above)
Students arrange and pay for their own round-trip air transportation to Paris.
Advantage Travel specializes in student fares and can assist with flight arrangements for your summer program. For more information, please contact Sally Curtis at scurtis@advantagecny.com or 1-800-788-1980.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Do not purchase your airline ticket before receiving written notification from us that you can book your flight. You will have to present this notification if we cancel the program at a later date, and you want to be reimbursed for the cost of the ticket.
You’ll be housed in shared rooms in an apartment/hotel rented by Syracuse University for the duration of the program. Meals are not included.
Students who choose to arrange and pay for their own housing in Paris must notify SU Abroad in writing at the time of application.
| Housing begins: | June 3, 2010 |
| Program begins: | June 3, 2010 |
| Program ends: | July 9, 2010 |
| Housing ends: | July 10, 2010 |
| Depart from Paris: | July 10, 2010 |
| Application deadline: | March 1* |
* Applications received after March 1 will be considered if there is still space in the program.
| UNDERGRADUATE (6 credits) | |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $5,592 (estimated) |
| Program Fee | $3,650 (2009 rate) |
| Total | |
| GRADUATE (6 credits) | |
| Tuition | $6,978 (estimated) |
| Program Fee | $3,650 (2009 rate) |
| Total | |
Please note: All costs are estimated and subject to change.
Additional Financial Information: We estimate that students should budget accordingly for the following expenses:
Air travel: $1,200
Books & Supplies: $100
Personal: $500
Meals: $900
These figures are for expenses not covered in the tuition or program fee and are paid out-of-pocket.