Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 2014, French and Italian

In this dissertation, Michele Gerring analyzes scenarios in which the integration of the Maghrebi-French occurs in contemporary French settings, to a variety of degrees, as seen in several works of Beur novels and films, and select issues of the magazine, "Paris-Match," constructing a “spectrum of hospitality,” based on the theories that best contextualize the polar ends of hospitality, Derridean hospitality theory and Foucauldian power theory. After establishing her theoretical foundations in Chapter 1, she examines integration as it is depicted in Beur novels and films revealing Foucauldian-like relationships between the Maghrebi-French and the French of European descent in Chapter 2; integration as it is viewed in settings of mixed hospitality in Chapter 3, and integration as seen in novels and films featuring more favorable circumstances for the Maghrebi-French, akin to situations of “Derridean” hospitality, in Chapter 4, before analyzing the predominately-distrustful relationships revealed in some of "Paris-Match"'s portrayals of the French suburban riots of 1990-1991, 2005, 2007, and 2010, in Chapter 5. Gerring's study of Maghrebi-French integration, as it is depicted in this corpus of works, demonstrates that Derrida's concept of the mutually-beneficial guest-host relationship, part of his hospitality theory, in which the “guest” and the “host” act in the best interest of the other party, can be useful in encouraging the French of European descent and the Maghrebi-French to consider the point of view of the other party, thereby improving conditions for the other party, as well as their relationship. Additionally, instances in which hyper-ethical behavior is practiced, as individuals or representatives of larger entities take the perspective of the other party, developing empathy for them, even when there has been conflict between the parties, as exemplified by certain characters in the works analyzed in this dissertation, reveal that this exercise (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Jean-François Fourny Ph.D. (Advisor); Cheikh Thiam Ph.D. (Committee Member); Jennifer Willging Ph.D. (Committee Member); Karlis Racevskis Ph.D. (Committee Member) Subjects: Foreign Language; Language; Literature; Minority and Ethnic Groups; Modern Language; Modern Literature; North African Studies; Romance Literature

Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 2008, French and Italian

The quest for identity is becoming one of the most politically charged issues at the start of the third millennium. The transformative processes that are occurring as a result of globalization, as well as the mass population migrations that took place in the twentieth century, explain why the question of identity has become so central a political driving force to both the well-established democracies of the West and the post-colonial societies as they evolve in their quest toward modernization. In reaction to the dehumanization and alienation brought about by the post-industrial economies, new dissident and “deviant” identities are being forged. The concept of French citizenship, a universal abstraction as conceived by the Enlightenment, is being challenged by specific forces relating to gender, culture, sexual orientation but especially those tied to ethnicity and religion, once considered as belonging to the past. New identities are being forged around sub-cultures associated with consumer habits and leisure time activities such as soccer and Rai music. Others seek refuge and legitimacy searching for roots in mythical pasts and imaginary ancestry, or in transnational movements and causes. Facing simultaneously the pressures of assimilation and exclusion within the society, ethnicity and religion become alternative choices to new immigrants who also become victims of the socio-economic vagaries of globalization. The struggle for the recognition of a dissident identity is a fight for power. Representative democracies gradually absorb dissident currents into their mainstream, Islam, however, represents a particular challenge as it has become an ideological opponent to the Western rationalism. The sheer number of followers and the size of its territory appear menacing to the West, making the migrants of Muslim descent doubly undesirable, both as poor neighbors and as suspected radicals. The uprisings of the marginalized suburbs are a symptom of this crisis. The 200 (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Karlis Racevskis (Advisor); Danielle Marx-Scouras (Committee Member); Jennifer Willging (Committee Member) Subjects: