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Paris, je t’aime
Many people are acquainted with Stockholm syndrome, in which hostages develop feelings of sympathy or even defend their captors, but how many know of Paris syndrome? Typical to French style, Paris syndrome is much more romantic and far less violent than Stockholm syndrome. The intense idealization of France has deluded people into thinking that Paris lies at the top of Mount Olympus, that croissants are the baked version of ambrosia, and that the language is lovelier than a siren’s song. Some people, when they finally land at Charles de Gaulle airport and step into their Eden, suffer psychiatric symptoms – Paris syndrome. A handful of tourists a year suffer hallucinations,…
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Do not judge a building by its façade.
Public housing has a rather negative image – initially associated with slums and poverty, these areas were (and still generally are) avoided by middle to upper income citizens. Whether in fear of catching starvation, encountering violence, or simply being disturbed to see how the other half really lives, public housing venues are the last place you would find the “well-to-do”. However, this sort of housing can actually be quite nice, and some countries are incorporating it into their city schemes for the entire population, not just the poor, huddled masses.
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Role Models
The Role Model Essay. Yep, I can hear the groans now. Remember that wonderful paper that you had to write in high school, which perhaps even swayed the college acceptance letter towards a yes or a no? Well, that’s the subject I’m going to be pontificating about today. I can smugly sit here and say that I never had to write such an essay. However, that does not mean that I never thought about it. Please, with all of the American teen drama shows/films/series, there is no escaping that one second of seeing the angst of ‘Who do I write about’ and wondering about it for yourself! (Possible references here…
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Le XIXe siècle, éternelle chronique de l’art français
Le xixe siècle français : siècle de l’art de vivre à la française. Qui ne pense pas tout de suite à Toulouse-Lautrec et au monde des bordels de Montmartre, à la forte consommation d’absinthe qui, en un sens, développait l’esprit créatif, à la grande époque du Moulin Rouge, aux cafés-concerts et à Pigalle. Révolution, industrialisation, bourgeoisie, tels sont les mots qui nous viennent à l’esprit. Mais il faut surtout penser à la Modernité, aux changements des mœurs. Comme le prouve le tableau d’Édouard Manet ci-dessous, ce siècle a été avant tout celui du renouveau et des chocs visuels pour le grand public : une femme nue au milieu d’hommes habillés, pure…
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Impressionist, and proud
Underdogs have taken note and reclaimed terms that were once hurtful or derisory: ‘queer’ has become a positive label for the LGBT community, ‘nerd’ and ‘geek’ are no longer insults but badges of honour (thanks in part to the Gleeks), ‘slut walk’ participants have tried to de-stigmatise the word, and the Tea Party movement’s ‘tea-baggers’…well, that’s a bad example. But this ‘current’ propensity for linguistic reappropriation is not such a modern phenomenon… The Impressionists came to be known as such after a 10-year battle for recognition. In 19th-century France, artistic esteem could only be attained by recognition by the Academy of Fine Arts and the displaying of their artwork in…
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Mode – Jean Paul Gaultier
La mode est-elle forcément synonyme d’extravagance ? En général pas dans la vie de tous les jours. Jean-Paul Gaultier est une exception dans le cercle des créateurs de mode, qui a le premier voulu intégrer à ses créations les caractéristiques du monde qui l’entoure. Ce qui le différencie ? La provocation. Depuis le début de sa carrière dans les années 70, on le connaît pour ses créations hors-normes, souvent multi-ethniques (il a fait sensation avec une collection intitulée « Barbès ») et toujours transgenres. Ses silhouettes androgynes sont facilement reconnaissables, parées de matières brillantes et métalliques. Madonna en est le symbole parfait. L’exposition du musée De Young de San Francisco…
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Fashion Passion
Fashion is not my thing. I’ve stated before that I am a neutral, solid colour kind of girl. Occasionally I’ll throw on something bright to mix it up, usually a pair of stilettos. Leading me to the point in which I must confess to my deep, inherent, undeniable love of shoes, and, more specifically, boots. (Cue in blaming my mother, who tried to get me to care about blouses, skirts, and dresses as well, but was less successful. Apologies and gratitude, mom!) Once upon a time my friends wanted to go out for the evening; I didn’t want to open my closet, because it can get very taxing as a…
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Bienvenue chez Les Maîtres fous…
Les Grecs lisaient le destin dans le vol des oiseaux. Les Romains mêlaient l’eau et le vin. Les Aztèques déchiffraient l’avenir dans des cœurs humains qu’ils offraient à leurs dieux. À chaque civilisation ses moyens d’entrer en contact avec le « monde des esprits »… Or, dans ce domaine, l’imagination des Africains semble inépuisable et inégalable ! Boire le sang d’un chien fraîchement égorgé ou observer la position de bâtonnets remués par une souris enfermée dans une boîte… Autant d’exemples qui relèguent cartes à jouer et autres boules de cristal au rang de jouets pour enfants ! Ces pratiques africaines de divination ont été révélées en images dans les années…
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Masters of Disorder: the Shamans or the French?
MASTERS OF DISORDER, the forces at work in the world around us (especially my bedroom), unseen and unheard by all except those few who can divine their want and will. These are the ‘shamans’, or other spiritual leaders, who mediate between the real and spirit worlds, trying to make sense of the ‘disorder’ around us, mystically communicating with the ethereal and “negotiating with the forces of chaos”. The musée du quai Branly has put on an impressive multisensory display of these religious men from a number of tribes around the world that are still in existence today, with many anthropological ‘finds’ (or plunders) accompanied with work by current artists. It…
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