Contemporary Writers (Houellebecq, Ernaux)

1. Houellebecq is often called nihilistic. Is his pessimism productive or merely destructive? What does he diagnose about contemporary life?

2. Ernaux uses "flat writing" to examine class and gender. How does this stylistic choice serve her sociological purposes?

3. Both writers have been criticized for their treatment of sexuality. How do they challenge comfortable assumptions about desire?

4. These writers often blur fiction and autobiography. What does this suggest about contemporary relationships to truth and authenticity?

5. How do they represent the transformation of French society through globalization, immigration, and technological change?