Renaissance-France.org is a web portal that treats the work, life and times of Rabelais, Montaigne and other important figures of the French Renaissance. Its authors are scholars in the field who make correlations between the present information age and the surrounding political turmoil and that of the time of Rabelais. There are literary extracts, Renaissance music, a multimedia sight and sound portal and substantial historical information. There is a Flash rendition of some scenes from Rabelais' Quart Livre (Les Paroles Gelees) as well as many other features that have been added since. There is an extensive description of Lyon, France's second city and the role of its famous citizens during the Renaissance.
Type of Material:
Reference; tutorial
Recommended Uses:
In surveys, seminars or graduate courses that treat Rabelais, Montaigne, Ronsard and others.
Technical Requirements:
Flash player
Identify Major Learning Goals:
Students will learn the history and appreciate the litterature and culture of the Renaissance.
Target Student Population:
French language majors and graduate students
Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:
Intermediate to advanced French proficiency
Content Quality
Rating:
Strengths:
The site is replete with every kind of media to do with the Renaissance. Books, film, music and videos are all available. The sheer magnitude of the project, executed by scholars in the field, is remarkable. Multimedia readings from Rabelais, Montaigne
Concerns:
The Montaigne section was under construction at the time of this review, although audio extracts were available.
Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool
Rating:
Strengths:
The approach to use modern media to approach the Renaissance is successful. It would be totally consistent with this site to eventually incorporate social media to increase student engaement with the materials.
Concerns:
no
Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty
Rating:
Strengths:
Portions of the site are in the process of redesign, but on the whole it seems that the authors are trying to keep the sheer volume of texts and other materials organized and under control.
Concerns:
Some of the pages are somewhat text heavy.
Other Issues and Comments:
no
Creative Commons:
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