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