Eric Fassin teaches in the Department of Social Sciences at the Ecole normale supérieure in Paris, where he is the program coordinator for the DEA de sciences sociales (ENS / EHESS), after several years in the United States, in particular as Assistant Director of the Institute of French Studies at New York University. His research focuses on comparatisons between France and the United States - in particular on the recent history of gender and sexuality issues, as well as race and ethnicity. He has recently co-edited Au-delà du PaCS : l'expertise familiale à l'épreuve de l'homosexualité (PUF, 1999) ; his book Same Sex, Different Politics : Comparing Gay Marriage in France and the US is due in 2001 (Duke University Press and Fayard). His talk, "Same Sex, Different Politics: Comparing and Contrasting 'Gay Marriage' in France and the United States," will take place on Thursday, November 9 from 12:30-2:15 in the Sequoia Room.

Christian-Marc Bosséno completed his doctorate in 1995 at the l’Université Paris I Panthéon-Sorbonne where he worked with Philippe Boutry, Roger Chartier, Paolo Viola, Michel Vovelle.  His interests are in the revolutions of the nineteenth century and the history history of cinema.  His published works include: Immagini della Libertà, L’Italia in Rivoluzione 1789-1799 (with Michel Vovelle et Christophe Dhoyen, 1988); La Prochaine séance, Les français et leurs cinémas, 1895-2000, (1996); and Et vogue le navire de Federico Fellini, Une étude critiquei, (1998). His talk, "War and crisis in French history and cinema:  Abel Gance's 'J'accuse' (1938) Jean-Pierre Melville's, 'L'Armee de l'ombre' and Bourlem Guerdjou's t 'Vivre au paradis,'" will take place on Thursday, November 9 from 4:30-5:30 in the California Room.

Antoine de Baecque is currently the Directeur du Musée du cinéma in Paris.  His principal published works include Les Eclats du rire. La culture des rieurs au XVIIIe siècle (2000); La Nouvelle Vague. Portrait d'une jeunesse (1998); La Gloire et l'effroi.  Sept morts sous la Terreur (1997); and Le Retour du Cinéma. His talk, "Un Musee du cinema a Paris: Pour une histoire visuelle du XXe siecle" will take place on Friday, November 10 from 12:30-2:15 in the Sequoia Room.