French Speakers Series

Lead Faculty: Stéphanie Boulard 

The French Speaker Series at Georgia Tech brings renowned French writers, scholars, and artists to campus, offering unique opportunities for students, faculty, and the broader community to engage directly with influential figures in French literature and culture. This series promotes cross-cultural understanding and intellectual enrichment, fostering a deeper appreciation of French arts and ideas within the university and the wider Atlanta community.

Co-sponsored by the School of Modern Languages French program, Villa Albertine, Cultural Services of the French Consulate, and the Atlanta Global Studies Center.

Fall 2024

"Cinematic Perspectives: Agnès Varda and the Female Gaze" 

A conversation between Anne Pauly and Stéphanie Boulard discussing Agnès Varda's groundbreaking work and the transformative impact of the female gaze in cinema.

Date(s): September 3, 2024, 2:00 pm - 3:15 pm
Location: Price Gilbert Memorial Library, Scholars Event Theater (Room 1280)

About Anne Pauly:
Anne Pauly is a writer working and living in Paris. Her first book, Avant que j’oublie, is a tragi-comic story of mourning death and “vengeful social mobility.” It was awarded the 2020 Prix du Livre Inter and Prix Robert Walser after shortlisting for the Prix Femina, Prix Wepler, and Prix Goncourt. Pauly has since written short stories for several reviews and scripted a televised fiction series and a play for the Centre Dramatique National Besançon Franche-Comté. She is currently finishing a second novel, while working on a play for the Théâtre du Nord along with seven other writers, including Virginie Despentes, Paul B. Preciado, and Julien Delmaire. 

Anne Pauly

“Spaces of the Soul: Felwine Sarr on Literature, Music, and Dreams”

in conversation with Stephanie Boulard

Date(s): September 26, 2024, 3:30 pm 
Location: Price Gilbert Memorial Library, Scholars Event Theater (Room 1280)
Parking: The closest parking is the Visitor Area 1 Lot on North Avenue.


Join us for a stimulating conversation with Felwine Sarr about the profound connections between music, literature, and dreams. In dialogue with Stéphanie Boulard, Sarr will reflect on his personal creative practices, examining how artistic forms —such as musical composition, poetry, and narrative fiction— shape and express our emotional and intellectual landscapes. This conversation will offer an opportunity to delve into themes such as the interplay between reality and imagination, the practice of reading, writing, and storytelling, and the significance of friendship and community. Together, they will also explore how identity and relationships inform our connection to the world and inspire the creative process.
 

Event Schedule
4:30 – 5 p.m.: Welcome Reception and Book Presentations with Barnes & Noble at Georgia Tech Bookstore
5 – 6 p.m.: Spaces of the Soul: on Literature, Music, and Dreams – Felwine Sarr in conversation with Stephanie Boulard
6 – 6:30 p.m.: Reception & Book Signing

About Felwine Sarr 
About Stéphanie Boulard