Degree

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

French Studies

Document Type

Dissertation

Abstract

My research is centered on the exploration of intertextuality in Francophone literatures and cultures spanning centuries—from Canada to Iran—viewed through the prism of migration and Diaspora Studies, Postcolonial Studies, Trauma Studies, Gender Studies, and Nationalism. My doctoral dissertation, titled “‘Comment peut-on être persan?’ : Persanité in Contemporary Francophone Autofiction,” explores the intertextual echoes of Baron de Montesquieu found in the works of two Franco-Iranian authors and one Quebecois author. Within my dissertation, I have examined three contemporary autofictions: Chahdortt Djavann’s Comment peut-on être français? (2007), Lise Gauvin’s Lettres d’une autre (1984), and Maryam Madjidi’s Marx et la poupée (2017). These works are scrutinized at the confluence of literature, history, Gender Studies, and political science, where the act of writing transforms into a powerful medium capable of instigating change. Furthermore, by juxtaposing storytelling and history, my research endeavors to reclaim the concept of “imagined community” as posited by Benedict Anderson, championing the profound influence of literature—especially autofictions originating from minor and marginalized groups. This research advocates for the transformative power of literature emanating from the autofiction genre and its capacity to illuminate the experiences and identities of underrepresented communities.

Date

7-29-2024

Committee Chair

Peters-Hill, Rosemary

Available for download on Monday, July 28, 2031

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