Danielle Marx-Scouras is a professor of French in the Department of French and Italian. Her area of expertise involves contemporary French and Francophone (Maghreb, Quebec, ethnic minorities in France) literatures, theory, intellectual history and popular music. She earned a BA in French-Honors from Simmons College in Boston, Massachussets (1971); an MA in French at Boston University (1975) and a PhD in comparative literature from Columbia University (1981). In addition, she also studied and did research at the following academic institutions: University of Louvain in Leuven, Belgium (1969-70); University of Milan, Italy (1971-72); University of Urbino, Italy (1973-74); International Center of Linguistics and Semiotics Summer Workshops at the University of Urbino (1973, 1977); Universities of Paris 7 and 8 (Vincennes), 1977-80.

Describe your current research or area of interest

I work in contemporary French and Francophone (Maghreb, Quebec, ethnic minorities in France) literature, culture, theory and intellectual history.

What undergraduate classes do you teach? Why would you encourage students to take these classes, and how might they be of interest to students majoring in other disciplines?

Honors Introduction to French and Francophone Studies (H2101), Conversation, Introduction to Francophone Literatures, Popular French Music, Camus, Marseille, Literature and Culture from the Maghreb and Quebec. One caveat: they are all in French! I have done courses in English tied to study abroad trips in France and surrounding countries (Belgium, Basque Spain).

What aspects of your teaching give you the most satisfaction?

Getting students to question and challenge what we take for granted; to appreciate unorthodox thinkers and artists. Study abroad experiences together. Staying connected with former students I taught decades(!) ago.

What book/movie would you recommend, or what music do you enjoy?

I’m going to have to pick three! Books: Just Kids by Patti Smith; Invisible Cities by Italo Calvino; The Count of Montecristo by Alexandre Dumas. Films: The Breakfast Club, West Side Story (the original), The Battle of Algiers. I love all musical genres: rock, folk, jazz, blues, rap, classical. I don’t like the label “world”; it’s a way to bypass the subversive specificity of this music! Three favorites: Jacques Brel, Leonard Cohen, Juliette Greco.

What is the most interesting place you’ve visited, who has inspired you and/or would you like to share your reflections on an event that influenced you?

Favorite places where I have spent considerable time and where wonderful memories have been forged: Cassis, France and the Basque city of San Sebastian, Spain.

What is the best advice you’ve received?

“Be strong!” (from my late mother), “Be able to talk to anyone!” (from my late father), “Stay in the moment!” (from my son)

What advice would you give to undergraduate students?

Enjoy and cherish your twenties. They will forever mark you and you will be happy that they did! Don’t negate them in the future! They are who you are (“Pour tout bagage on a 20 ans!”, Léo Ferré)

When you encourage students to stop by your office hours, what do you most love talking about?

What makes us all unique as individuals.

Would you like to share a fun/interesting fact about yourself?

Pretty much everything I learned about life, I learned working in my father’s (Stuart’s) Diner in Worcester, Massachusetts, in the 1960s!

Anything else that you would like to share?

Master a foreign language and discover a new you that you never could have imagined! And come visit us in FRIT! We’re a cool group!

Learn more about Professor Marx-Scouras' work, email and office location on her department page.