Category Archives: news

Last day of ‘Paris in the spring’ for 2013

Today, students celebrated (or commiserated) the last day of their term in Paris. Similar to the UK, the weather has really been too cold for ‘spring’ this year but even with a lack of sun, the students have loved their time living and studying in Paris. 

The day started with an excellent guided tour of the Musee du cinema at the cinematheque which demonstrated how the art of cinema was actually established and what role France played in this.

The evening started with an aperitif and was rounded off by gallettes (savory pancakes), crepes (sweet pancakes) and Breton cider for all.

It’s not goodbye to Paris but au revoir!

Lecture on ‘Beats’ in Paris and meditation at Apollinaire’s grave

On Good Friday, Dr Will Norman (School of English) visited the University of Kent at Paris to entertain Paris students.

His lecture on the ‘beats’ in Paris enlightened students on the ‘beat hotel’ a run down and extremely basic, tatty and cheap hotel in the Latin quarter in the late 1950s and 60s which became residence to the members of the beat poetry movement, exemplified by spontaneous creativity and bohemian hedonism.  

One particular poem, ‘At Apollinaire’s Grave’ written by American poet Allen describes his feelings whilst at the famous grave in the Père Lachaise cemetery in Paris.

So, after coffee and croissants (as opposed to the traditional British hot-cross buns on Good Friday) , Dr Norman led us to the cemetery himself so that we could have our own mediations at Apollinaire’s grave.

Expert on Francis Bacon leads visit to Pompidou Centre

Professor Martin Hammer from the University’s School of Arts, expert on 20th century artist Francis Bacon and member of the Tate Britain Council, visited the University of Kent at Paris today to work with our Masters students.

Following a specialist lecture in which he described the influences and impact of Bacon’s work, students got to see one of the subjects of the class first hand, the 1964 triptych ‘three figures in a room’ and one of the Pompidou Centre’s prize exhibits.

“I have learnt so much today! If Professor Hammer hadn’t been here, I probably would have looked at this triptych for a few moments and then moved on. His insights have been fascinating and he’s really made us think about the messages of the paintings. I have to say I never thought I could have spent a whole hour looking at same work of art and enjoyed it so much!’ (Paris student).

Undergraduate history students’ two-day trip to Paris

A group of final year undergraduate history students returned to Canterbury today after spending two days at the University of Kent at Paris. They were accompanied by Dr Stefan Goebel who successfully bid for funding to give his undergraduate students an ‘international experience’,

About to write their final year undergraduate dissertations, the history students were given the opportunity to reflect upon and plan the subject of their projects in a different University centre.

They also made the most of the University of Kent’s central Paris location by seeing the city’s sights and enjoying a French meal.

Dr Goebel said:

“The whole trip was a big success with the students: one has already written to me to say how much he enjoyed the combination of seminar, socialising and sight-seeing.”

Philosophising in Paris

Yesterday, a group of ten Kent undergraduate philosophy students came to philosophise in Paris.

Thanks to a successful bid for ‘internationalisation’ funding, Prof Laurence Goldstein (Philosophy department, School of European Culture and Languages) was able to cover the cost of bringing a group of his undergraduate philosophy students from their normal place of study in Canterbury to the University of Kent at Paris.

After an early Eurostar, the day in Paris started with coffee, fresh croissants and a discussion in the University of Kent at Paris seminar room. They then explored the area and had lunch at the famous ‘Polidor’ restaurant in the Latin quarter, known as a meeting place for philosophers, artists and writers at the beginning of the 20th century.

After lunch, they followed in the footsteps of renowned figures such as Sartre, Camus and De Beauvoir  to the renowned café ‘Les Deux Magots’ in St Germain des Pres for more discussions and something which they didn’t know was a part of the plan for their trip to Paris….

Professor Laurence Goldstein said:

After having explored far and wide, the students were thrilled when, as my surprise, a famous French philosopher showed up to speak to them