My name is Noémie , im 21 years old and i study modern literature. I love reading, especially detective novels.

My name is Amalia and I’m 17 years old and I study Art and Archeology History. I love classical literary novels, especially those about artefacts. I’m also a huge fan of the Ghibli’s Studio fantastic films (The boy and the Heron, Spirited Away…) and I love science-fiction and dystopian movies such as The Maze Runner and The Hunger Games.

Voila !!

My name is Maud, I'm 23 years old and I study Political Science and Art History.

Art has always been my passion, and I enjoy sharing it with others through music (I'm a singer and pianist), dancing (especially ballet), reading of course (mostly classic French literature and poetry), and improvisational theater.

That's all! <3

My name is Gladys and I’m 18 years old, I’m currently studying french and comparative literature, I live near Paris and I absolutely love art in general. As an Hellenist, Greek and latin writers are my absolute favs, I enjoy fantasy and classical literature genre, but I’m open to others genres if I find the subject interesting to my eyes. My favorite book is for sure Number One by David Foenkinos. The book that I read this year in English literature in high school and could not get off my mind and that I think everyone should read is The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy! I’m a very creative person so I love to create art from different fandoms of literature or movies. Cinematography has a very important place in my heart as I’m constantly nourishing from a movie or documentary or series. Im the number one fan of Wes Anderson and Toy Story! I’m really into coming of ages’ movies such as The perks of being a wallflower, and have a complicated bond with Harry Potter (apart from Rowling of course). I’m very happy to work on this course as I originally wanted to study English literature only, and participated to the English national competition last year and worked a lot only on English literature and culture on which I was and is passionate about. Nice to meet all of you!

It's a pleasure to meet you.

I’m Abigaël, I’ll be 25 next week and I live in Paris suburbs.

I’m in my second year of Humanities and social sciences’ studies and I’m passionate about history, such as French and English history, and especially periods of royalty and wars.

At this moment I’m reading a lot of books writing by Olivier Norek and I discovered is novel Surface, which is my favorite detective novel, as they are my favorite type of books since my childhood (started with Millenium at 13 which is NOT recommended ) .

If I’m looking for detective/ horror novels in English/American literature it will be Stephen King (I won’t lie I’m a huge fan with collector’s editions of his books) or Edgar Allan Poe.

A contrario I HATE dystopian and utopian literature or movies, because I’m really scared of all the topics that are covered, so this will be a first for me, but I’m here to learn !

I don’t watch a lot of movies or series, i just rewatch my favorites, but I watch a lot of YouTube videos about true crime with McSkyz, miscellaneous news item, or paranormal investigations with EnjoyPhoenix.

As I’m passionate about history I love spending my time watching channels that dedicate their content to storytelling (« fun » fact one of my dreams has been to write a novel since I was a teenager.).

Less creepy activities : I love horse riding, reading and playing video games

( favorites are Zelda and life is strange ).

I’m sorry for the length of my message ( and for the mistakes ), I look forward to talking with you someday. Good luck to everyone !

Abigaël

I’m an archivist by trade, and occasionally librarian too. I’m preparing the exams for the French civil service in this domain, while working as a web-based documentalist, and following the cursus from Paris Nanterre.

I’ve also been active in the world of Fantasy and Science-Fiction pretty much my whole life, most notably for several role-playing games and a few specialized fanzines. 

At the moment, my main writing projects are part of an artists collective called Insulaires, and in collaboration with several projects of a Youtuber friend called Alt236, as well. I do intend to release a narrative video game at some point, too.

I also have a keen interest in the thematic genre of “folk horror”. Notable examples of this would be movies like “The Witch”, “The Wicker Man” or “Midsommar”, to name a few. I am in contact with UK-based fanzines and webzines about this subject. It’s quite possible a few articles of my own, written in English, will be published at some point during next year. Well, I hope so, at least.

And, finally, I’m an avid trekker, diver and climber. That’s certainly one of my motivations for moving house (apart from the general cost of life in Paris).

I like cinema, and art in general, too.

Glad to be here. Have a great year, everyone.

My name is Sandrine. I’m 47. I live in the suburb of Paris.

I like changing jobs. I've had different jobs: mail carrier; au pair, legal assistant, teacher, etc.

Let’s be honest, I love learning new things, that’s why I’m here.

I don’t read a lot of fantasy, horror or science-fiction books. But I’m an eclectic reader, I can read at the same time “Hernani” and “Looking for Alaska”.

I didn’t realize before this presentation, but I watch much more science-fiction or utopian/dystopian movies than I read books of these genres.

I try to look at Netflix series in English, (Stranger Things, Hacks, Grace and Frankie…).

I’m really happy with the Utopian/Dystopian theme! I hope to learn many interesting facts and discover new books/movies/ideas here.

I don’t have a lot of free time but I like go hiking when it’s possible!

I wish you all a nice weekend and a wonderful year!

I'm currently living in Paris but just came back from a year passed in Manchester, so I'm gonna try to not lose my English !

As a reader, I'm more into history, autobiography, feminism and social sciences, but I do really love Alain Damasio who has a unique way of creating a dystopian world with a touch of philosophy.

Lately I enjoy watching body horror movies such as The Substance or The Ugly Stepsister, that display a strong visual aesthetic and a sharp critic about societal pressure on beauty.

Nice to meet you all.

My name is Charlotte. I'm 38 years old. I live in Brittany. I 'm working as an architect in a company and I am studying Art History at the same time.

I don't know much about utopia and distopia because I read more french classical literature. But I'll be glad to learn more about it.

I wish a nice year on everyone.

My reading habits are quite irregular: sometimes I’ll read three books in a row and other times I won’t read anything for months. I really enjoy sci-fi and dystopian stories, although I’ve watched far more movies in those genres than I’ve read books. I’d like to go back to some of the original works, like Margaret Atwood’s novels or The Hunger Games which I’ve been meaning to read for a while!

I am Patrick, 54 years old, and live in the far West of France. I am going back to univ to study history of art an archeology. I carry on working as an architect and so will be quite busy doing both. Fortuneltly there are some common subjects as architecture is considered a form of art (in theory). I also read, run and ride (a windsurf board), take care everyone.

My name is Esther and I'm a 27 years old software engineer. I was always pationate about Literature, philosophy and art in general, so when I got the chance to study those topics futher I took it. I am really happy to be here :D

I live in Paris and in my spare time I am a huge Fantasy girly. I also a fan of Romantacy (especially because I enjoy Romance and Fantasy, so what not to love), Dystopies and I'm always down for a good Thriller. I am a mood reader so it really depend on what genre I wanna read in the moment.

I'm working toward being a author one day, so I'm excited about the creative writing.

I'm looking forward to working with you all this semester ! :)

So my name is Aïssa, I am 20 years old, I live in the suburbs of Paris and I study Humanity. I know it can be childish but I love to read manhwa lol but also historical books and above all life writing because I think it's so interesting that I can see the word through someone else's life and discover their experiences, emotions, thoughts etc...

I prefer series to movies BUT I especially love ones that are dramatic or sad... and also historical (even better if it's a mix of all three !)

Hum I love cats, I love having long conversations, I love discovering new things and I love nice people (like everyone but I have to say it !). OH, and I LOVE video games !

I was supposed to be bilingual when I was young but I lost my English...

I don't have much else to say, sorry if it's boring lol. Anyway nice to meet you all !

My name is Louise I’m 19 and I live in Bordeaux where I study cultural management and the art market. Though I’m not sure what I’d like to do in the future, I know that I want to be surrounded by any form of Art in whichever country. I’m currently reading We by Yevgeny Zamyatin and the last movie I saw was Barry Lyndon by Stanley Kubrick which I found absolutely stunning. Good luck for this year !

I'm a ballet dancer of 32 (which is old in the ballet world..). Retirement is near so I decided to come back to school while dancing in order to anticipate my professional retraining. I've always been interested by Art, Literature and Politics so I chose this program to combine academic knowledge and passion. I'm also fond of Cinema and I never miss a Science-fiction or Fantasy movie and series. I enjoyed every episode of Black Mirror! I also think it's very interesting to study dystopian stories now than ever because recent situations around the globe are dangerously familiar to one of those fictions...

Happy to start with you all!

My name is Mathilde and I'm 21 years old.

I live in Paris and I'm studying history.

I'm also a high-level sportswoman in fencing so I travel a lot. I always have a book with me. I don’t have a favorite genre. I'm very happy to learn more about distopia and utopia because, before, it was my favorite literary genre. I think that the course will bring back memories and make me want to read the books.

My name is Alice, I'm 23 years old and I used to live in Paris but now I live between Bordeaux and Toulouse in the campaign so it's a lot of changes but I like it ! I study philosophy, history and literature and I think utopian and dystopian fiction are a very good mix of these subjects. I don't have a favorite genre, I like all kinds. I read 1984 and I saw Hunger Games, Divergent, The Maze runner, of course Harry Potter and I enjoyed everything. I'm glad to be part of this course and to share it with all of you !

I am Adam, 30 years old. I am currently an expatriate in the US as I am also doing a postdoc. Although, I'm not in France right now, I'm born there and did all my college in Reims and Paris. I'm currently studying philosophy, but I'm working in biology (evolution of fungi).

Besides my study and my work, I like to play video games, read mystery and SciFi books, and travel to discover the world. I do have a passion for horror (I have read all of Lovecraft's works).

With this class I hope to get better at English (useful when living in the US) and have fun sharing it with everyone!

I’m Agnès, I’m 30 and I am currently studying History while slowly travelling from France to Japan in train. I love reading and I’m happy to learn more about Utopia and Dystopia through English and American masterpieces.

Looking forward to discuss with you !

I've loved reading ever since I was a kid, I'd like to think I'm open to any genre but I mostly gravitate towards literary fiction, fantasy and classics. I'm currently reading Frankenstein by Mary Shelley so I am glad to see it mentioned here ! I haven't read much dystopia or utopia but I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman being one of my favorite books, which is set in a dystopian world despite not being a traditional dystopia, I am excited to know more about the genre !

I do not read a lot but when I do I often go to fantastic or futuristic universes. I enjoy dark or rough settings but I have to admit that most of my recent references come from video games, anime or tabletop roleplaying rulebooks (and this last part has led me to write a lot about fantasy)
Regarding my activities, I believe I still do have my share of good references, but I would not be surprised to discover that I skipped, or don't even know the existence of cinema or literature masterpieces, but I'm eager to learn and look forward to see what will bring this semester's topic.

My name is Kevin-Mickaël and I’m 30 years old. I live and work in Paris.

I graduated couple of years ago in Criminal Law, and am now re-entering Uni to study History. As far as I can remember I’ve always been passionate about History. I love travelling, exploring museums, roaming through ancient ruins, learning new langages (English, Italian, Turkish, Latin and Ancient Greek) and reading books. My favorite authors are Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Franz Kafka, Mary Shelley and Emily Dickinson.

As a jurist and a public policy manager, Utopia and Dystopia have always been genras I’ve loved reading. Indeed, they take the reader on an exploratory journey of social and political organizations, the way they can shift and develop in both benevolent and harmful ways. Moreover, they enable the reader to learn lessons about the human pursuit of divine powers, such as control and creation, while exposing the flaws of humanity. Lessons that can prevent humanity from malevolent actions in real life and spark hope in our hearts.

I’m thrilled at the idea of starting this new course and I’m looking forward to our future conversations.

Wish you all a great year. 

I plan on becoming a history-geography teacher, and am now working within our, ahem, wonderful education system already.

As for the subject of this course, while I'm somewhat annoyed that the exam will involve creative writing, as I don't believe being creative has anything to with mastering a language, I do find the subject matter highly interesting. I'm a bit of a cinephile (I see someone else mentioned PTA's latest - go see it, it's great), so thinking critically about genres and their application is definitely in my wheelhouse.

My name is Tiphaine, I’m 56 years old and I live in Antony, near Paris. I’m studying History and Art History online during my free time. It’s difficult for me because I work full time as a librarian, but I like the challenge of validating each teaching in this university course. I am proud to have reached the third year of the bachelor's degree course.

I read mainly in the summer and my favorite authors are Ernest Renan, Maurice Leblanc and Boris Vian who are not authors of dystopias. My other interests are art in general and rock music. I often go to exhibitions and museums which are numerous in Paris.

I am excited to discover what this semester will be about with you all!

I'm currently re-watching 13th reasons why because I was too young when I first saw it but I believe it's an important story to know about.

However I am found of concerts and I can't wait for Louis Tomlinson to release his new album soon !!

Nice to meet you all :)

My best day this month was the 25th, because I had the chance to meet Camille Froidevaux-Metterie, a philosopher who truly inspires me.

I wish you all an excellent year!

I’ve always enjoyed both scientific and literary subjects, and I never really understood why they’re so often seen as opposites. That’s why I decided to study philosophy as well, in order to conduct  research on topics that interest me, such as language, ethics, and politics.

I’m currently in my last year of engineering, doing a half work–study program, and at the same time I’m pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Philosophy online.

When it comes to reading, I enjoy French 18th-century decadence and the Situationist movement. Renée Vivien and Lautréamont are two of my favorite authors. I also enjoy fantasy books like Dracula, Frankenstein, and The Lord of the Rings. My tastes are very diverse, lol. Right now, I’m reading Carmilla. I also enjoy Jeannette Winterson!

As for films, my taste is just as eclectic. I can watch contemplative, slow films or ones with a strong plot, I’m not really picky. Think Little Women, Fight Club, Interview with the Vampire or Un Week-end à Sokcho. Oh and I also used to love Harry Potter and Percy Jackson (and I still do)

It's amazing to be able to read about everyone else in this program. I hope we get to interact again.

Take care and good luck with your work!

Anna x

My name is Fadoua. I’m 42 and I live in a small town that has an island called “The Island of the Impressionists”… I’ll let you guess which one it is :)

I’m currently studying History and working as a Lean & Agile Facilitator.

I used to be more passionate about utopias than dystopias, with a special fondness for science fiction. However, after experiencing a supernatural event that changed my life, I no longer seek out utopian films or books. Instead, I now prefer to live the supernatural, having discovered that it is indeed possible.This is not crazy, I was truly blessed to experience a miracle that has opened my mind widely. If you’d like to know more about it, just let me know.

I wish you all a wonderful scholarship filled with blessings and success.

I really love reading, my taste is a bit eclectic : I'll have my fantasy or dystopia "phase", then I'll go to historical fiction, or essays, or contemporary fiction. Right now, I'm reading Ada Palmer's "Too like the lightning". I find it stimulating and clever, but I don't know if I really enjoy it, so far.

This year, I'll have to read a lot of History books and articles for my studies, so I'm happy to have this course as well! I used to write a lot when I was younger, but I've lost the habit of writing creatively.

In my free time, I sing a lot of classical music, opera, operettas, and I'm in a choir. I also practice yoga and I enjoy swimming, occasionally.

Nice to met all of you, and I can't wait to dig in the course material !

My name is Katia and I’ll be 24 years old in November (things are getting serious !). I live in a small town in Normandy and besides this philosophy bachelor, I am passing a Law masters degree. When I realized that this course will be based on literature, I was thrilled because I love books ! As I always say, I have two kinds of readings : those for pure pleasure and those for the culture. While I mostly read romance books for the pleasure, I also happened to read dystopian books to broaden my culture, like for example 1984, which blowed my mind. It was crazy to read a story which was 100% fictional when it was written in the 20th century, but finally turned out to relate to a bit of today’s reality. We may wonder if, unfortunately, dystopian artwork aren’t an opened window into the future.

It seems like I’m a bit late, but it was a pleasure to read all your introductions! It looks like we all come from different backgrounds and are doing a variety of interesting things.
As for me, my name is Elise, I’m 24 years old, and I started my PhD journey a month ago. Besides that, I’m also studying for a Bachelor’s degree in History and Art History at Nanterre University.

I think my knowledge of this class subject is still quite limited, so I’m really happy to learn more about it. I’m more of a books-than-movies kind of person, but on both sides my knowledge of the utopian and dystopian genres is still pretty low! I’m looking forward to working on this class!

Anyways, wishing you all a great school year!

The name's Oscar, I'm 28 and previously graduated from ESSEC Business School. I currently work in the PR industry, and am pursuing a project of becoming a litterature researcher and teacher. My favourite authors are Antoine Volodine, Gabrielle Wittkop, Laszlo Krasznahorkai and Edgar Alan Poe. I like dystopia very much, although I think Orwell's work might be a tad overrated. I, for instance, am no big fan of Animals Farm. See you all soon!

My name is Katia, I live in France, study Art history and work as a tourist guide. My favorite books are The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien and Dune by Frank Herbert. Therefore I'm looking forward to this course which sounds very interesting to me. Wish you all success in your studies !

I'm a huge fan of cinema, going from french New wave or niche Eastern european movies to rom-coms. I'm very fond of series, such as Twin Peaks, Hannibal, Fleabag or Dark (I find all of them to have a great philosophical subtext, that's probably why eheh).

I absolutely loved reading your introductions, it's great to see how diverse a group we are !!

Wishing you all a great day and a stimulating year :)))

I love any type of movies, but especially the ones that make you feel ill-at-ease. I am also fond of Scorsese.

English lessons give me more knowledge and help me better understand what dystopian stories mean, for example, and how to write them for my own novels. I have already published two eBooks entitled Nativus, under the pen name Jon Seyval. I hope that one day it will be adapted into a film. I would like to thank my English teachers for everything.