Tenured Professor of French and Intellectual History

Renan L.

Hello, my name is Renan, and I am a tenured Full Professor of French Literature and Intellectual History at the University of California, Santa Barbara, where I have been teaching since 2015.

I earned my PhD in French Literature in France at the University of Picardie, after completing advanced graduate training in several disciplines: History (MA, école des Hautes études en Sciences Sociales, Paris), Classics (MA, University of Strasbourg), and Philosophy (MA, La Sorbonne, Paris). I also hold the agrégation in French literature, one of the highest competitive teaching credentials in France.

I am the author of approximately ten books in the fields of eighteenth-century French literature and intellectual history. One of my books, Le Végétarisme et ses ennemis, received the Prix La Bruyère from the Académie française for best book in moral philosophy published in French (2016).

My research interests include anthropocentrism, the place of human beings in the cosmos, and human–animal relations. Alongside my scholarly work, I have extensive teaching experience in French grammar, French and comparative literature, and cultural studies. I have also designed and taught courses on French popular culture, the history of vegetarianism, and science fiction.

In my teaching, I place strong emphasis on conversation as a central element of French language, culture, and social life. My goal is to help students progress not only in linguistic accuracy, but also in cultural fluency and confidence. Whether you are preparing for academic work, refining your French for professional or personal reasons, or simply looking to engage deeply with French culture and ideas, I would be delighted to work with you.