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FR20140

Academic Year 2026/2027

Versailles: Power, Politics & Spectacle (FR20140)

Subject:
French
College:
Arts & Humanities
School:
Languages, Cultures & Linguis
Level:
2 (Intermediate)
Credits:
5
Module Coordinator:
Assoc Professor Derval Conroy
Trimester:
Autumn
Mode of Delivery:
On Campus
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

This module examines the dynamics of court life in Louis XIV's Versailles, and the fashion in which spectacle contributed towards the construction of the cult of the Sun King. The focus will be on accounts of court festivities, memoirs, moralist texts and political texts. Throughout the module, we will anchor the artistic and literary culture in the political and historical context of the period. Attention will also be given to the criticisms of the king, and the fragility of the mythic cult surrounding his regime.

Please note that this module is designated Red in accordance with the College of Arts AI Traffic Light System: you must not use generative AI for any purposes.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

On successful completion of this module, students should be able to:

* identify and explain the key features of court society under Louis XIV;

* understand key political ideas in circulation regarding authority and governance;

* be able to assess the role which the printed book / festival book played in the monumentalisation of the king and court;

* evaluate the relationship between art and the representation of power;

* articulate their ideas in a coherent essay form.

Indicative Module Content:

* Political concept of the 'ideal prince' - political theory and Louis XIV's memoirs

* Festival books: Félibien's *Relation de la fête de Versailles*, 1668

* La Bruyère's satirical portrait of court society in his *Caractères*

* Fénelon's criticism in the *Lettre à Louis XIV*

UNESCO highlights a set of key competencies that support individuals in their development and support society in achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UCD has adapted these competencies and is combining them with others to form a general framework of learning competencies. This module will help you develop the competencies below to the levels specified. 
Learning Competency Additional Information Level

Collaboration

The ability to learn from others; to understand and respect the needs, perspectives and actions of others (empathy); to understand, relate to and be sensitive to others (empathic leadership); to deal with conflicts in a group; and to facilitate collaborative and participatory problem solving. Advanced Beginner

Critical Thinking

The ability to question norms, practices and opinions; to reflect on one’s own values, perceptions and actions. Advanced Beginner

Systems Thinking

The ability to recognize and understand relationships; to analyse complex systems; to think of how systems are embedded within different domains and different scales; and to deal with uncertainty. Advanced Beginner

Strategic

The ability to collectively develop and implement innovative actions that further sustainability at the local level and further afield. Advanced Beginner

Integrated Problem Solving

The overarching ability to apply different problem-solving frameworks to complex sustainability problems and develop viable, inclusive and equitable solution options that promote sustainable development, integrating the competencies in this list. Not addressed

Self-awareness

The ability to reflect on one’s own role in the local community and (global) society; to continually evaluate and further motivate one’s actions; and to deal with one’s feelings and desires. Advanced Beginner

Normative

The ability to understand and reflect on the norms and values that underlie one’s actions; and to negotiate values, principles, goals, and targets, in a context of conflicts of interest and trade-offs, uncertain knowledge and contradictions. Advanced Beginner

Anticipatory

The ability to understand and evaluate multiple scenarios for the future – possible, probable and desirable; to create one’s own visions for the future; to apply the precautionary principle; to assess the consequences of actions; and to deal with risks and changes. Not addressed

Digital Literacy and Judgement

The ability to access, evaluate, create and communicate information in digital environments; to engage critically, ethically and responsibly with digital technologies and digital information; to understand their opportunities, limitations, risks and impact on individual’s digital identities; and to exercise informed judgement in digital participation and decision-making. Advanced Beginner

AI Literacy & Agency

The ability to understand, critically evaluate and responsibly engage with artificial intelligence; to recognise how AI systems are shaped by human values; to assess their ethical, social and environmental implications; and to exercise human judgement, agency and accountability in AI-related contexts. Advanced Beginner

Wellbeing

Wellbeing is having the resources and skills to meet life's challenges, including attributes such as personal development skills, resilience, stress management, strengths, lifestyle skills, nutrition, physical activity, sleep, alcohol/substance use, academic skills, time management, goal setting, interpersonal skills, group work, communication. Advanced Beginner

The United Nations identified seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as core to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and UCD contributes in general to SDG 4 Quality Education. Further SDGs explored within this module if relevant are listed below. A scale of 1 - 5 indicates the extent to which the SDG is covered.


 

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Specified Learning Activities

36

Autonomous Student Learning

50

Lectures

12

Seminar (or Webinar)

12

Total

110


Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Lectures, critical writing, seminar discussion.

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations
Learning Recommendations:

An interest in cultural history would be an advantage. Considerable proficiency in French language is essential since all source material is in French (and is not available in translation).


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Pre-requisite:
FR10020 - French Language I b, FR10070 - French Grammar & Expression


 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade Component repeat (in-module) Offered
Participation in Learning Activities: Written tutorial preparation throughout the trimester. (Some weeks excluded) Week 3, Week 4, Week 6, Week 7, Week 9, Week 10, Week 12 Standard conversion grade scale 40% No
35
No
Exam (In-person): Two-hour in-person end-of-trimester exam. End of trimester
Duration:
2 hr(s)
Standard conversion grade scale 40% No
65
No

As part of UCD's student support, under the Additional Consideration policy, extensions may be available for the following assessments in the module: Assignment (including essay/poster), Portfolio, Reflective Assignment, Report(s), and Individual Project.


Carry forward of passed components
No
 

Resit In Terminal Exam
Spring No
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Feedback provided individually in tutor's written comments on returned work during the trimester and also globally in following lecture.

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
Autumn Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12 Tues 12:00 - 12:50
Autumn Seminar Offering 1 Week(s) - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12 Thurs 10:00 - 10:50
Autumn Seminar Offering 2 Week(s) - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12 Thurs 11:00 - 11:50