La Maison Française of New York University celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2007. Located at 16 Washington Mews (at University Place), La Maison Française will host several special events in February, including a February 14 roundtable discussion, “Islam in France” with the author of Why the French Don’t Like Headscarves. All events are free and open to the public; for further information, call 212.998.8750 or visit www.nyu.edu/maisonfrancaise.
A schedule of events follows:
Thurs., Feb. 1, 7 p.m. Lecture: “Allegory and Melancholy in Julia Kristeva and Christine de Pizan” by Sarah Kay, Princeton University; author of Subjectivity in Troubadour Poetry.
Wed., Feb. 7, 6:30 p.m. Institute of French Studies Colloquium: “La culture québécoise Parler français, bon d’accord - mais pour dire quoi?” by Rene-Daniel Dubois, actor, director, playwright. In French.
Thurs., Feb. 8, 7 p.m. Reading/lecture: “On Pleasure and Hatred in France: Yesterday and Today” by Eunice Lipton, author of the new book, French Seduction: An American’s Encounter with France, Her Father, and the Holocaust.
Tues., Feb. 13, 7 p.m. Readings: “Correspondances: Les parfums, les couleurs et les sons se répondent’” by Marielle Bancou, artist and creator of The Color of Love, and Catherine David, literary critic and author of Crescendo: Avis aux amateurs. Readings in French and English are accompanied by images and music.
Wed., Feb. 14, 6:30 p.m. Institute of French Studies Colloquium: “Islam in France,” a discussion of the recent book, Why the French Don’t Like Headscarves, with author John Bowen; NYU’s Michael Gilsenan, author of Recognizing Islam; Sophie Meunier, co-author, The French Challenge: Adapting to Globalization; and Peter Sahlins, author of Unnaturally French: Foreign Citizens in the OldRegime and After.
Thurs., Feb. 15, 7 p.m. Lecture: “Napoleon’s Closet: Display, Cover-Up, and Exposure in Modern Masculinity” by Margaret Waller, author of The Male Malady: Fictions of Impotence in the French Romantic Novel.
Mon., Feb. 26, 7 p.m. Interview/conversation: “Littérature française d’aujourd’hui.” Novelist Jean-Paul Dubois, author of Une Vie française (Prix Femina, 2004), is interviewed by Olivier Barrot, journalist with France 3. In French and English. First in a series of 2007 interviews presented with the support of the Florence Gould Foundation, Voyageurs du Monde (Paris), and Directours.
Tues., Feb. 27, 7 p.m. Roundtable: “French Theater: The Last 50 Years” with Christian Biet, Université de Paris - Nanterre, Tom Bishop, NYU, and Judith Miller, NYU.
Tues., Feb. 28, 6:30 p.m. Institute of French Studies Colloquium: “L’américanisation de la culture en France et en Europe” by Pascal Ory, historian, Université de Paris I -Panthéon - Sorbonne. In French.