Around 65 million people live in La France, or L'Hexagone. Although France is just a tiny but smaller than Texas, it has all the demographic and cultural complexities of the United States. Although I have only been here a few months, through classes, conversations with my host and her friends and traveling to different regions, I have witnessed the various ways the French see each other.
Just as in the United States there is a clear distinction between the north and the south, both culturally and linguistically. The people of Provence in the south have a slight accent I pick up on now and then. The Parisienne accent is thought to be more haughty and aristocratic. This difference was demonstrated to me went I went on a trip to the Luberon region in Provence. The way you say Luberon marks you as a Provinçal or a Parisienne. It is a very subtle difference between the stress put on the "u" "e" and "o," which I still have not figured out. When talking about Paris, locals in Provence will say "Pariisiiennne," almost with a tinge of disgust while crinkling their nose. The parallels to demographic rifts in the United States are actually quite interesting.
There is even a difference between "The north" where Paris is and the far north closer to Brussels. This area is called Les Ch'Tis, commonly thought of as the sticks or the boonies. It is a stereotype that people from this region have a very discernible lisp and sometimes roll their R's. My host had friend who visited from Lille who grew up in this region. Although my French comprehension is usually spot on at this point, it was very hard to listen to a few sentences without interjecting "Repetez, s'il vous plaît, j'ai mal entendu." The movie "Bienvenue Chez Les Ch'Tis," does a really good job of showing the French attitude towards this region and until recently was the top grossing film in France.
Where I am, the more urban, economically varied Marseilles has a bit of a grudge to the very bourgeois Aix. The differences are even localized to mere blocks. Even right with in Paris, the arrondissements are as varied as the New York boroughs, with the more artistic Left bank and rich Right bank.
There are also religious differences. France has in past years developed a reputation as being a very secular country. Yet there is still a very strong Catholic following that I think makes its way into a lot of aspects of French culture. Although France just passed gay marriage, there is still a lot of grumbling about it on a mass scale. Many arguments against gay marriage are the ones clinging to the image of the nuclear family with one man and one woman. My host's sister Nikki, who is very Catholic, argued with me one night about how she just does not like the word "marriage" when applied to gay marriage.
As with any complex society with many demographics, there are still deeply ingrained prejudices. My host told me that people here are very racist towards the large Arab population in Marseilles that came up from Northern Africa. My housemate and friend, Rachel, who is an African American constantly is met with the phrase "Vous êtes clair," or roughly, "You are clear." They are remarking that Rachel has a little bit of white in her and so does not look totally black. People just nonchalantly say this to her all the time.
The few unifying aspects of French culture are definitely a baguette on the dinner table, Football (soccer) and shared stereotypes of the people in the outside word. I think I might lose my sanity on the next person who looks at me in surprise and says, "You're American? But you're not fat!" Do not even get me started on the rivalry between France and England, that could be two other columns.
I have witnessed many aspects of this culture I never would have thought of, and practically none of the aspects that are so commonly French stereotypes. I still have not seen a mime or someone sporting a striped shirt and beret. I never heard anyone say "sacre bleu," or laugh in that guttural "huh, huh, huh," way.
That is because France, like every country, is not a caricature. She has her internal problems and misunderstandings. Though there are some constants with cuisine and landscape, every decade brings a new set of demographics and cultural icons. I think in this way culture is not just a composite of similarities, but also the way in which a community perceives and integrates its differences. Culture grows and expands. It can be stagnant or traditional but also accepting and forward thinking. This is why stereotypes have to be challenged as a way of defining culture. Stereotypes are merely a way to categorize an idea or way of life that will always be complex.
Just as in the United States there is a clear distinction between the north and the south, both culturally and linguistically. The people of Provence in the south have a slight accent I pick up on now and then. The Parisienne accent is thought to be more haughty and aristocratic. This difference was demonstrated to me went I went on a trip to the Luberon region in Provence. The way you say Luberon marks you as a Provinçal or a Parisienne. It is a very subtle difference between the stress put on the "u" "e" and "o," which I still have not figured out. When talking about Paris, locals in Provence will say "Pariisiiennne," almost with a tinge of disgust while crinkling their nose. The parallels to demographic rifts in the United States are actually quite interesting.
There is even a difference between "The north" where Paris is and the far north closer to Brussels. This area is called Les Ch'Tis, commonly thought of as the sticks or the boonies. It is a stereotype that people from this region have a very discernible lisp and sometimes roll their R's. My host had friend who visited from Lille who grew up in this region. Although my French comprehension is usually spot on at this point, it was very hard to listen to a few sentences without interjecting "Repetez, s'il vous plaît, j'ai mal entendu." The movie "Bienvenue Chez Les Ch'Tis," does a really good job of showing the French attitude towards this region and until recently was the top grossing film in France.
Where I am, the more urban, economically varied Marseilles has a bit of a grudge to the very bourgeois Aix. The differences are even localized to mere blocks. Even right with in Paris, the arrondissements are as varied as the New York boroughs, with the more artistic Left bank and rich Right bank.
There are also religious differences. France has in past years developed a reputation as being a very secular country. Yet there is still a very strong Catholic following that I think makes its way into a lot of aspects of French culture. Although France just passed gay marriage, there is still a lot of grumbling about it on a mass scale. Many arguments against gay marriage are the ones clinging to the image of the nuclear family with one man and one woman. My host's sister Nikki, who is very Catholic, argued with me one night about how she just does not like the word "marriage" when applied to gay marriage.
As with any complex society with many demographics, there are still deeply ingrained prejudices. My host told me that people here are very racist towards the large Arab population in Marseilles that came up from Northern Africa. My housemate and friend, Rachel, who is an African American constantly is met with the phrase "Vous êtes clair," or roughly, "You are clear." They are remarking that Rachel has a little bit of white in her and so does not look totally black. People just nonchalantly say this to her all the time.
The few unifying aspects of French culture are definitely a baguette on the dinner table, Football (soccer) and shared stereotypes of the people in the outside word. I think I might lose my sanity on the next person who looks at me in surprise and says, "You're American? But you're not fat!" Do not even get me started on the rivalry between France and England, that could be two other columns.
I have witnessed many aspects of this culture I never would have thought of, and practically none of the aspects that are so commonly French stereotypes. I still have not seen a mime or someone sporting a striped shirt and beret. I never heard anyone say "sacre bleu," or laugh in that guttural "huh, huh, huh," way.
That is because France, like every country, is not a caricature. She has her internal problems and misunderstandings. Though there are some constants with cuisine and landscape, every decade brings a new set of demographics and cultural icons. I think in this way culture is not just a composite of similarities, but also the way in which a community perceives and integrates its differences. Culture grows and expands. It can be stagnant or traditional but also accepting and forward thinking. This is why stereotypes have to be challenged as a way of defining culture. Stereotypes are merely a way to categorize an idea or way of life that will always be complex.