An Introduction to

 
Catalan 
Joan Miró's whimsical sculptures and paintings, Antoni Gaudí's supple 
buildings, Salvador Dalí's irreverent creations, Pau Casals' lilting music, Mercè 
Rodoreda´s subtle and sensitive prose: these are only some of the modern 
manifestations of Catalan culture, whose rich and vibrant history includes some 
of the world's most famous epic and lyric poetry and some of its most 
sophisticated and ancient political formations. A language of approximately nine 
million people in parts of Spain, France, and Italy, as well as Andorra, Catalan is 
an important European language that does not, however, enjoy the support and 
visibility of a sovereign nation-state apparatus. Barcelona, the capital of 
Catalonia, is one of the world's most visited cities, with extraordinary cultural 
and natural offerings. Valencia and the Balearic Islands (most notably, Mallorca), 
each with its own particular forms and traditions, attest to the diversity of the 
language. At present, the department offers beginning courses in Catalan, with 
the possibility of independent study and directed reading and research at the 
intermediate and advanced levels. 
French 
Regardless of your interests or the concentration you choose, during your years 
at Harvard you will feel the influence of France. Historically, France and its 
culture have played a major role in areas as diverse as philosophy, sociology, 
political science, cuisine, dance, art, and cinema, as well as literature and literary 
theory. Today, French and Francophone studies encompass the literature and 
culture of the entire French‐speaking world both inside and outside of France, 
including many countries in Africa, the Indian Ocean, and the Caribbean, 
Belgium and Switzerland in Europe, and our northern neighbor, the Canadian 
province of Quebec. Some students are attracted to French because of the 
language itself; others are fascinated by the desire to study or live in France or in 
a francophone country and realize that to do so, they need to know the language. 
Along with a focus on language, courses in French in the Department of 
Romance Languages and Literatures provide students with unique and diverse 
perspectives on multiple aspects of French and Francophone cultures, from the 

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literary classics across the centuries and the fascinating world of French cinema 
from its inception, to contemporary civilization and intellectual currents. Many 
courses at all levels emphasize performance and creative projects, making 
language and culture truly come alive. France, especially Paris, is a popular 
destination for students to study abroad either for a summer or a term, and 
Harvard's summer program in Paris offers students who have completed 
advanced language courses in French a particularly rewarding educational and 
cultural experience.