Frenchman Takes New Look

Perhaps this is more a comment on French politics than culture, but the statement from the NY Times article, It is a fact of French public life that once the president decides something, the rest of the government closes ranks around him." Obviously, that's not the case in the US!

Regarding the Louvre, I think you have to wonder why they're considering Abu Dhabi. It does beg the question of intent. You'd think that if they truly wanted to expose their treasure to as many people as possible, the UAE wouldn't be at the top of the list.

When I introduced this thread last week I thought that the subject (partially a difference in French and American culture standards ) would stimulate a more extensive "conversation". Perhaps todays article in the NYTimes Art section under the title "France Frets As Louvre Looks Overseas" can do that. Without mincing words it directly involves Chirac and his involvement with the arts.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/01/arts/des...amp;oref=slogin

I thought Martel hit the nail right on the head. The short comings of the Americans in my view is due to the fact that with Bush and the Republicans in power they held the reins while American policy abroad could change with different administrations. Martel felt the shortcomings of cultural diversity at home in France was due to the entrenched power of the central government and the attitude of the Acadamie Français in these matters.

And when I go to LaLa Land, boy, do I realize la difference.

Al, I thought that point was interesting when I read it too. When you look at how big the Unites States is and how different each state is, it would be difficult for another country to figure out the culture of the entire continent. When I leave California and go to other states, I am always reminded how different each one is.

Ellen, I also just received "Au Contraire; Figuring Out the French," and am looking forward to reading it. I haven't started it yet.

What is most interesting (at least from this article) is that Martel points out that the USA is a continent while France is a small country and the American "culture" that many French observe and even experience is not necessarily the culture that many Americans enjoy.

Yes, thanks for the link, Al. For me one of the most interesting things about learning a language is learning about, or maybe more appropriately, becoming aware of the culture. Teresa, I agree with you that learning about others' cultures makes you more aware of your own. We take so much for granted in our own culture because it's just the way it is.

For Christmas I received Au Contraire; Figuring Out the French, co-authoried by an American woman and a French man, both of whom have lived and studied in eath other's countries. I've just started reading it and I'm looking foreward to it.

Thanks for the link, Al. One of the things I love about learning about other cultures is how it opens our eyes to things we didn't realize about our own culture. This should be an interesting read.

Frédéric Martel, a former French cultural attaché in Boston, has taken a new look from a French point of view of American culture. More important than analyzing the culture is to see how the culture is developed and maintained. It is worth reading the review in today's NYTimes and perhaps some comments on how BPers feel.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/26/books/26...amp;oref=slogin