This course explores representation of gender and sexuality in French-speaking popular culture, including in literature, cinema, television, and cartoons. Through a diverse selection of sources, from iconic works such as Louis Feuillade's "Vampires," Alexandre Dumas' "The Three Musketeers," Raymond Bernard's "Wooden Crosses," to more recent works like the TV show "Ten Percent," and the beloved children character Fantômette, you will study masculinity and femininity in French-speaking sources, and how they reflect the chaotic and controverted rise of modern societal norms. Occasionally, we will dip into US pop culture, to explore the differences and similarities in the portrayal of gender and sexuality. Through close readings, film/episode screenings, and writings, students will gain a nuanced understanding of how these works reflect, resist, and shape societal attitudes towards gender and sexuality. As such, we will explore the portrayal of female and male characters in literature and film/tv; the profound changes they undergo throughout the 20th and 21st centuries, the representation of LGBTQ+ identities, and the intersectionality of gender with other social categories such as race and class. During this course, you will hone your writing, develop your critical thinking skills, and learn or review new cinematic and visual vocabulary. By the end of this course, you will have a better understanding of the complexities surrounding gender and sexuality in French and Francophone popular culture, enabling you to critically analyze and appreciate the ways in which these representations contribute to broader societal conversations today. This course will not count towards the minor/major, and does not fulfill the WL/FL3 requirement. This course is taught in English.