This course will explore conflicting attitudes about history, politics, culture, and identity explicit and implicit in colonial and post-colonial francophone literary production. Topics may include négritude, oralité, engagement, moeurs, désillusion, religion, and justice sociale. The course may focus on specific geographical areas, genres and/or authors. Students will have the opportunity to enrich their cultural competence through the study of current events, documentaries, films and television. Readings may include works by Azouz Begag, Roch Carrier, Aimé César, Maryse Condé, Camara Laye, Ferdinand Oyono, Eric-Emmanuel Schmitt.