The disciplines covered by this sector are: Literature, especially anglophone or francophone literature, Comparative Literature, Art and History of Art. Collaborations are welcome in any of the above-mentioned disciplines. Interdisciplinary approaches are particularly encouraged. Activities take the form of seminars, workshops, symposia, talks, exhibitions and screenings.

Regular seminars hosted by the Maison Française include: the Early Modern French Seminar, the Modern French Research Seminar, the Medieval French Seminar, and Photoliterature and the Photobook (2017-2018).

The impetus of the sector is for a large part determined by the research projects of the visiting fellows of the Maison Française, hence the current focus on the social history of photography, photoliterature and the photobook.