In an era when men went to battle donning embroidered coats with gold buttons and buckles, silk stockings, powdered wigs, and full makeup, participants in the French military enterprise changed the face of war as we know it. Indeed, as Professor Christy Pichichero argues in her recent book The Military Enlightenment: War and Culture in the French Empire from Louis XIV to Napoleon (Cornell, 2017; finalist Oscar Kenshur Book Prize, 2018), the Geneva Conventions, post-traumatic stress disorder, the military “band of brothers,” and soldierly heroism all found their antecedents in the eighteenth-century French armed forces. From the wars of the Sun King through those of the “Little Corporal,” from Canada to the Caribbean and India, the military was one of the few institutions of Old Regime France to transform progressive theories into practice, actually operationalizing the Enlightenment. At the AFDC, Professor Pichichero will share her fascinating discoveries and entertaining historical anecdotes for an evening of intellectual discussion and fun.
ABOUT THE LECTURER: Dr. Christy Pichichero is Associate Professor of French and History at George Mason University. She earned her A.B. in Comparative Literature at Princeton University, a bachelor’s of music in opera singing from the Eastman School of Music, and a Ph.D. in French Studies from Stanford University. She has held fellowships at Cambridge University (King’s College), the École Normale Supérieure (Paris), West Point Military Academy, and the Society of the Cincinnati. She is the author of The Military Enlightenment and articles on military culture and French neoclassical theater, painter Antoine Watteau, the history of emotions, race, and multiculturalism in France. She lives in Georgetown with her husband and two daughters.
Event in English. Light refreshments after the event. Book on sale for signing on the day of the event.
AFDC Member / Culture Pass: $10 + Processing Fees - General Admission: $15 + Processing Fees.
Culture & Events policies:
2 hours street parking from 7:30am to 8:30pm.
Digital Activism a trend, a fad, a curse, or a blessing? The AFDC invites you to a town hall meeting with Sandra Muller, the French journalist who created the #balancetonporc hashtag. Everyone can speak (respectfully). The Alliance Française Executive Director Sarah Diligenti will moderate this exciting debate.
Ms. Muller's book #Balance ton porc (in French) will be for sale the day of event.
This event will be in English. Light refreshments after the Q&A session.
AFDC Member / Culture Pass: FREE - General Admission: $10 + Processing Fees .
On vous souhaite une bonne lecture !
Check out library materials with your AFDC membership :
Not sure what your level of French is? Do the free placement test online or join us for one of our on-site placement test nights! Take the Placement Test now
Our next Placement Test Night will be on WEDNESDAY, February 13! Come take the test, meet our staff, sign up for a class or two, and enjoy light refreshment after!
Come join us for our next French Immersion Days.
Discussions in French will continue over a French style lunch will be served.
Three different levels, with three different topics will be offered on April 5th & April 20th:
| Date: | Topics and levels: |
| Fri, April 5th |
Les Symboles de France (Level 100+) Les Parfums de France (Level 200+) French Leading Women of the XXI Century (Level 300/400+) |
| Sat, April 20th |
Les Symboles de France (Level 100+) Les Parfums de France (level 200+) French Leading Women of the XXI Century (Level 300/400+) |
A bientôt!
The Alliance Française de Washington provides customized private one-on-one and semi-private instruction on-site and off-site, as well as Skype lessons with fully qualified French teachers. Start at any time and benefit from flexible scheduling and personalized instruction.
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