Unit 3 Overview: Influences of Beauty and Art

Unit 3 Overview

In this unit, we explore the significance of beauty and art in Francophone countries through both modern and historical lenses. This unit will allow us to understand the ways in which these principles affect people from various different countries, and how practices involving these ideals change from a home community to a foreign one. Additionally, you will learn to describe aesthetics and other artistic influences on your own life!

Des goûts et des couleurs, on ne discute pas. Image Courtesy of s-obeit-et-r-agit

Des goûts et des couleurs, on ne discute pas//There's no accounting for taste.

This French saying reflects the very personal nature of beauty and taste. While each culture defines standards of beauty in its own ways, we as individuals have our own internal sense of what beauty is (which is why we say there's no accounting for taste, or, in French, on n'en discute pas! 🤫 ).

Beauty and art have long been important elements of French culture. 

France has a rich history of artistic achievement and has been home to many of the world's most famous artists, including Claude Monet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, and Vincent van Gogh. The country has also played a major role in the development of various artistic movements, such as Impressionism, Post-Impressionism, and Surrealism.

Beauty and aesthetics are highly valued in French culture, and the country is known for its sophisticated sense of style and its attention to detail. French art and architecture are also renowned for their beauty and are major tourist attractions for visitors to the country.

Essential questions

3.1: How do ideals of beauty and aesthetics influence daily life? / En quoi les idéaux de beauté et d’esthétique influencent-ils la vie quotidienne?

3.2 :How does art both challenge and reflect cultural perspectives? / En quoi les arts à la fois défient-ils et reflètent-ils les perspectives culturelles?

3.3: Why do communities value beauty and art? / Pourquoi les communautés accordent-elles de l’importance à la beauté et aux arts?

3.4: How is art used to record history? / En quoi les arts sont-ils utilisés pour témoigner de l’histoire?

Unit 3 Possible Conversation & Cultural Comparison Prompts

1. Quelle est l'importance des beaux arts dans votre communauté?
2. Comment l'art influence-t-il la qualité de vie dans une communauté?
3. Quelle est l'importance de l'art dans les pays ou communautés francophone?
4. Comment est-ce que les arts reflètent l'histoire d'une communauté?
5. Comment est-ce que la beauté est définie dans une culture?

Vocabulary Words to Know:

Here are some important vocabulary words related to art and beauty in French:

• L'art: art
• La beauté: beauty
• L'esthétique: aesthetics
• L'artiste: artist
• La peinture: painting
• La sculpture: sculpture
• L'architecture: architecture
• Le musée: museum
• Le chef-d'œuvre: masterpiece
• La finesse: refinement
• Le raffinement: sophistication