PEDAGOGICAL KIT - THE ARTIST AND SOCIETY

This pedagogical kit is designed for teachers at the junior college level. Using the documentary Un sur mille by Jean-Claude Coulbois, the author, professor and critic André Roy proposes various ways of exploring and using video to help students develop new skills and knowledge in their field of study.

AUTHOR

Andre Roy, PhD in French Studies, lives in Montreal (Quebec, Canada). He is a writer (in poetry and short novels) and a film critic. He is editorial staff member of the magazine 24 images and he writes regularly for La Revue de la Cinémathèque québécoise.

 

 
 
 
PEDAGOGICAL KIT - THE ARTIST AND SOCIETY

This pedagogical kit is designed for teachers at the junior college level. Using the documentary Un sur mille by Jean-Claude Coulbois, the author, professor and critic André Roy proposes various ways of exploring and using video to help students develop new skills and knowledge in their field of study.

AUTHOR

Andre Roy, PhD in French Studies, lives in Montreal (Quebec, Canada). He is a writer (in poetry and short novels) and a film critic. He is editorial staff member of the magazine 24 images and he writes regularly for La Revue de la Cinémathèque québécoise.

 

 

INTRODUCTION

Un sur mille is a portrait of the actor and playwright René- Daniel Dubois, an intellectual and artist who has always felt like an alien in this society in which, he says, “intellectuals are deaf mutes and artists Mrs Grundys”. For several months, the filmmaker followed Dubois as he meets with theatre students; re-stages his first play (Ne blâmez jamais les Bédouins/Don’t Blame the Bedouins); wonders aloud about the status and function of the artist in society and the present-day situation of culture in Quebec and that of artists; about the role of ideas and intellectuals; and about social and political stances, especially during the 1995 referendum 1995 (René-Daniel Dubois reveals that he will vote “no”). This artist upsets people with this unique vision of Quebec, which raises fundamental questions about both his profession and his right to speak his mind as an artist and thinker (what we call political commitment, which is not the same as partisan politics). On the watch for Dubois’ hard-hitting statements and strokes of genius, the filmmaker carefully collects his by turns provocative and by turns moving statements from radio interviews, archives, theory courses, theatrical performances and writing sessions. He thus opens a window for us onto the complex world of artistic creation. We propose to follow the career and work of René-Daniel Dubois, his conception of theatre and acting, and to ask ourselves what the role of the artist is in society. These analyses can be used separately, independently of the others, or grouped together and discussed over several classes.

INTRODUCTION

Un sur mille is a portrait of the actor and playwright René- Daniel Dubois, an intellectual and artist who has always felt like an alien in this society in which, he says, “intellectuals are deaf mutes and artists Mrs Grundys”. For several months, the filmmaker followed Dubois as he meets with theatre students; re-stages his first play (Ne blâmez jamais les Bédouins/Don’t Blame the Bedouins); wonders aloud about the status and function of the artist in society and the present-day situation of culture in Quebec and that of artists; about the role of ideas and intellectuals; and about social and political stances, especially during the 1995 referendum 1995 (René-Daniel Dubois reveals that he will vote “no”). This artist upsets people with this unique vision of Quebec, which raises fundamental questions about both his profession and his right to speak his mind as an artist and thinker (what we call political commitment, which is not the same as partisan politics). On the watch for Dubois’ hard-hitting statements and strokes of genius, the filmmaker carefully collects his by turns provocative and by turns moving statements from radio interviews, archives, theory courses, theatrical performances and writing sessions. He thus opens a window for us onto the complex world of artistic creation. We propose to follow the career and work of René-Daniel Dubois, his conception of theatre and acting, and to ask ourselves what the role of the artist is in society. These analyses can be used separately, independently of the others, or grouped together and discussed over several classes.