Professor Wynne Wong is making waves in the Traditions, Cultures, and Transformations GE space with a dynamic new course on Quebec Studies. French 3802, entitled Made in Quebec: From Poutine to Pop Music & Everything in Between explores a variety of topics regarding our Francophone neighbors to the north. When asked to explain what her course will mean to students, Professor Wong had this to say:
What do poutine, Céline Dion, hockey, and Cirque du Soleil have in common? They’re all part of Quebec’s vibrant popular culture, which both reflects and reshapes the province’s identity. This course explores how Quebec’s cultural expressions such as food, music, sports, cinema, and more have served as powerful tools of expression and change in Quebec. We’ll trace how Indigenous traditions, French and British colonial legacies, and global immigration have shaped Quebec’s cultural landscape. Along the way, we’ll examine how the Quiet Revolution transformed society, shifting power between dominant and marginalized groups, and how these dynamics continue to influence Quebec today. By engaging with Quebec’s cultural products—from classic chansons to contemporary cinema—you’ll gain insight into how language policy, social movements, and everyday practices intersect to create a rich, evolving cultural identity.