Example French dissertation topic 8:

An ethnocentric analysis of the writings of Julia Kristeva, with particular reference to attitudes towards Islam.

Ian Almond has criticised Julia Kristeva as failing to demonstrate a balanced view of Islam, particularly with regard to women’s role therein. This dissertation examines Kristeva’s work, and evaluates whether Almond’s claim is justified. Additionally, the work considers to what degree the rise of Islam in France has affected Kristeva’s work, and whether instead she presents an idealistic Christian world. Issues of the accuracy of nuances in translation are debated as being a factor in such claims. This is contrasted with the reputation that Kristeva holds for being a pioneer of what has come to be known as ‘political correctness’.

Suggested initial topic reading:

• Almond, I. (2007). The new Orientalists: Postmodern representations of Islam from Foucault to Baudrillard. London: IB Tauris.
• Smith, A-M. (1998). Julia Kristeva: Speaking the unspeakable. London: Pluto.
• Still, J. (2007). ‘French feminist criticism and writing the body’. In, Plain, G. and Sellers, S., A history of feminist literary criticism. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.