Profile
Ph.D., Princeton University, 2024
Sophie Chopin specializes in 20th-century and contemporary French arts and literature. She is particularly interested in the evolution of the avant-garde and the invention of psycho-geography, which examines the effects of modern city environments on emotions and behavior.
Sophie is currently working on her first book project, based on her Ph.D. dissertation entitled “Paris, Ville Fantôme: Patrick Modiano et la Hantise du Contemporain.” She uses Modiano’s art as a case study to explore the effects of urbanization and its rapid acceleration after World War II, shedding light on its impact on individuals and their memory. The book addresses the problem of historical erasure stemming from Paris’ spatial transformations after 1945, in a society haunted by memories that it sought to forget permanently. With photographic precision, Modiano’s works reinscribe the tension between memory and modernity into the cityscape, revealing how excessive urbanization erases tangible traces of the past while shaping a new consciousness.
At Princeton, Sophie played a pivotal role in fostering a vibrant cultural and intellectual community through her contributions to campus programming. She taught a range of French language and culture courses, from beginner to advanced levels (FRE 101, 102, 107, 108, 207, and the Senior Thesis Seminar). Her innovative pedagogy, grounded in literacy-based approaches, extended beyond the classroom through initiatives such as Princeton’s French language tables, providing students with a safe space to practice conversational skills in the informal, inclusive environment of dining halls. Additionally, Sophie worked as a tutor for the Office of Disability Services, where she designed a tailored French curriculum to support a student unable to attend regular language classes.
In 2023, Sophie served as President and Jury Secretary for the U.S. Goncourt Prize, an international extension of France’s highest award in fiction. Working closely with partner institutions, she helped establish the prize’s presence in the U.S., creating opportunities for students and faculty across the country to engage with Francophone literature.
She is always enthusiastic to engage in conversations and share her experiences with interested students and prospective applicants.
Adviser: André Benhaïm
Committee: André Benhaïm, Effie Rentzou, Göran Blix, Christy Wampole.