Course Catalogue

Writing the Visual: The Art of the Text FRENCH4105

  • Academic Session: 2026-27
  • School: School of Modern Languages and Cultures
  • Credits: 20
  • Level: Level 4 (SCQF level 10)
  • Typically Offered: Runs Throughout Semesters 1 and 2
  • Available to Visiting Students: Yes
  • Collaborative Online International Learning: No
  • Curriculum For Life: No

Short Description

This course looks at the relationship between paintings and words, engaging with the concept of ekphrasis as well as analysing the presence of words in paintings. It asks how we might "write" the visual and, more broadly speaking, account for the 'pictorial turn' in today's culture. In so doing, it offers a fresh and innovative take on text-image relations in French, Belgian and Swiss contexts.

Timetable

20 x 1-hour sessions over both semesters as scheduled on MyCampus.

 

This is one of the honours options in SMLC and may not run every year. The options which are running this session are available on MyCampus.

Requirements of Entry

Available to all students fulfilling requirements for Honours entry into French, and by arrangement to visiting students or students of other Honours programmes who qualify under the University's 25% regulation.

Excluded Courses

None

Co-requisites

None

Assessment

The standard assessments for this course are:

■ Essay (2,000 words) - 50%

■ Essay (2,000 words) - 50%

 

If required, for instance where a disability prevents a student from undertaking a specific method of assessment, the following alternatives are available:

■ There is no alternative to the essays, but an extension to the deadline can be offered as reasonable adjustment (students should follow the usual process for extensions).

 

Further reasonable adjustments may be provided where necessary. Students are encouraged to consult with the course convenor. 

Main Assessment In: April/May

Course Aims

The course will provide the opportunity to:

■ study words in paintings and paintings in words in a variety of Francophone contexts from a research-led perspective;

■ engage with a range of methodological approaches, drawing on fields such as text-image studies, literary studies, philosophy and other cross-disciplinary perspectives;

■ explore the broader intellectual and artistic contexts of the set works.

Intended Learning Outcomes of Course

By the end of this course students will be able to:

■ discuss set texts and select paintings in detail;

■ offer close critical readings of verbal representations of visual representations;

■ exercise critical judgement through selective, appropriate and accurate reference or citation;

■ discuss the interplay between text and image in nineteenth-century and twentieth-century Francophone contexts;

■ judiciously apply an appropriate range of critical terminology and concepts.

Minimum Requirement for Award of Credits

No exceptions