Exploring stereotypes about France and the French • FRANCE 24 English

Summary

This episode of French Connections Plus explores the stereotypes about the French, including their love for strikes, complaints, and mime artists. It discusses cultural nuances like the striped top and beret, and addresses misconceptions like poor hygiene and a nation of smokers. The show also touches on the French reputation for romance and love of food, challenging clichés while celebrating the country's unique cultural identity.

Takeaways

• 🇫🇷 The French are often stereotyped as being frequently on strike, which is a visible part of everyday life in France.
• 🗣️ French people are known for their propensity to complain, which is seen as a social function rather than a sign of constant negativity.
• 🤔 The stereotype of the French being tight-lipped is contrasted with their love for conversation and debate.
• 🎭 The mime is a peculiar French cliché that dates back to the early Greeks and Romans, and was popularized in France in the 16th century.
• 👨‍🎨 The famous mime Marcel Marceau used his act to aid the French Resistance during World War II, highlighting the cliché's deeper historical significance.
• 👕 The striped top, or 'marcel', is a French clothing cliché that originated in Brittany and was popularized by Coco Chanel in the 20th century.
• 🎩 The beret is a symbol of French culture, traditionally worn by shepherds and now a fashion staple, despite not being commonly worn by modern French people.
• 🧀 The cliché that French people never shower and rely on garlic and stinky cheese to cover body odor is outdated and not reflective of modern French hygiene.
• 🚬 France has a reputation as a chain-smoking nation, but public policy has significantly reduced the number of smokers in recent years.
• 💖 The French are often seen as romantic and passionate, with a cultural tradition that embraces love and seduction.
• 🍽️ The French have a deep appreciation for food and gastronomy, which is a significant part of their cultural identity.

Q & A

What is the main theme of the 40th episode of French Connections Plus?

The main theme of the 40th episode of French Connections Plus is exploring the intricacies of life in France and tearing apart common clichés about the French.

What is one of the biggest clichés mentioned about the French in the episode?

One of the biggest clichés mentioned is that the French are always on strike.

How is the act of striking in France connected to another stereotype?

The act of striking is connected to the stereotype of the French being frequent protesters or demonstrators, often taking to the streets to defend their rights.

What is the cultural difference that might be misunderstood as the French complaining all the time?

The cultural difference is that complaining in France has a social function, similar to small talk, and is not necessarily a sign of being in a bad mood.

What is the historical background of the mime stereotype associated with the French?

The mime stereotype dates back to the early Greeks and Romans, and it was later popularized in France with the development of modern miming by Jean Gaspar de Bourrelle and performances by Marcel Marceau.

Why is the striped top (Breton stripe) associated with the French?

The striped top is associated with the French because it originally comes from the region of Brittany and was later popularized by designer Coco Chanel.

How did the beret become a symbol of French culture?

The beret became a symbol of French culture because it was traditionally worn by shepherds in the Basque Country and later adopted as part of the French military uniform and as a fashion item worldwide.

What is the origin of the stereotype that French people never shower?

The stereotype that French people never shower may have originated from the limited access to running water in the past, but it is considered outdated by most French people today.

How does the French smoking culture relate to their image as 'stinky' or 'garlic eaters'?

The French smoking culture is seen as romantic and rebellious rather than a lack of self-control. It's associated with the arts and might have contributed to the stereotype of the 'stinky' French person, along with the consumption of strong-smelling foods like garlic.

What is the role of the media in perpetuating stereotypes about the French?

The media plays a significant role in perpetuating stereotypes about the French by amplifying certain ideas and presenting them as truths, which can be difficult to shake off.

How do the French view the romantic clichés associated with their culture?

While some romantic clichés about the French, such as being passionate lovers, are seen as part of their cultural identity, others are scrutinized in the wake of social movements like #MeToo.

What is the French attitude towards food as portrayed in the episode?

The French are portrayed as having a deep appreciation and love for food, with gastronomy being an integral part of their lifestyle, which is considered a true aspect of French culture.

Outlines

00:00

🎭 French Stereotypes: Strikes, Mime, and More

The script begins by introducing the show 'French Connections Plus', which aims to explore the nuances of life in France and challenge common clichés about the French. The host discusses the stereotype of the French being frequently on strike, highlighting the visibility of strikes due to accompanying protests. The French are also portrayed as complainers, but this is framed as a cultural difference rather than a negative trait. The conversation then shifts to the iconic French mime, tracing its history from ancient Greece and Rome to its peak in France during the 16th century. The script mentions famous mimes like Jean Gaspar de Bourrelle and Marcel Marceau, who used his art to aid the French Resistance during WWII. The discussion also touches on the striped top, a French clothing cliché that originated in Brittany and was popularized by Coco Chanel.

05:00

🧢 The Beret and the Myth of the 'Stinky French'

This section delves into the stereotype of the French wearing berets, a hat traditionally made from wool and associated with the Basque country. It discusses the beret's history, its use by shepherds, and its adoption into the French military uniform. The script notes that despite trends, the beret remains a symbol of French elegance. It then addresses the cliché of the French not showering often, suggesting this might be linked to historical limitations in water access. The stereotype of the French being smelly due to eating garlic and stinky cheese is debunked as outdated. The conversation also touches on the French being perceived as chain smokers, a stereotype that is changing due to public policy reducing the number of smokers.

10:01

💖 The Romantic Reputation of the French

The final paragraph discusses the positive stereotype of the French being romantic, passionate lovers. It acknowledges the French reputation for seduction and public displays of affection, which are less taboo than in some cultures. The script also mentions the impact of the #MeToo movement on French flirting and chivalry. The love of food in France is highlighted, with a nod to traditional dishes like snails, frog legs, and French onion soup. The French gastronomy culture is celebrated as a way of life, and the script concludes by inviting viewers to engage with the show on social media.

Keywords

💡Stereotypes

Stereotypes refer to widely held but oversimplified images or ideas about a particular type of person or thing. In the context of the video, stereotypes about the French are discussed, such as being always on strike or complaining frequently. The video aims to challenge these cliches and explore their origins and persistence.

💡La Greve

La Greve translates to 'the strike' in English. It is a term used in the video to describe the frequent work stoppages in France, often accompanied by public demonstrations. The video mentions how strikes are a visible part of French culture and are often associated with protests.

💡Manifestation

Manifestation refers to a public demonstration or protest. The video highlights that French people are not hesitant to take to the streets to defend their rights, which is a stereotype that is both true and exaggerated.

💡Mime

Mime is a form of silent theatrical performance in which actions and emotions are conveyed without speech. The video discusses how the mime is a peculiar French cliché, with a history dating back to ancient Greece and Rome, and its association with France due to figures like Jean Gaspar de Bourrelle and Marcel Marceau.

💡Marina

The Marina is the French term for a striped top, which is a classic French clothing cliché. The video explains that the striped top originally comes from the region of Brittany and was later popularized by Coco Chanel.

💡Beret

A beret is a soft, round, and flat-crowned hat that is often associated with the French. The video discusses how the beret is a symbol of French culture and fashion, despite not being commonly worn by modern French people.

💡Cliché

A cliché is an overused expression, idea, or object that has lost its original meaning or impact due to overuse. The video uses the term to describe common, often exaggerated, beliefs about the French, such as never showering or always eating garlic.

💡Galentri

Galentri refers to French chivalry or the practice of treating women with courtesy and respect. The video mentions that traditional French flirting and chivalry are coming under scrutiny in the wake of the #MeToo movement.

💡Gastronomy

Gastronomy is the art and science of good eating, often associated with French culture. The video emphasizes that the French have a deep appreciation for food and wine, making gastronomy a significant part of their lifestyle.

💡Coco Chanel

Coco Chanel was a French fashion designer and is mentioned in the video for her role in making the marina (striped top) fashionable. Her influence on French fashion and the marina as a staple in French wardrobe is highlighted.

💡Emily in Paris

Emily in Paris is a TV show mentioned in the video as an example of how stereotypes about the French are perpetuated in popular culture. The show is criticized for reinforcing clichés about French lifestyle and behavior.

Highlights

The French are often perceived as always being on strike.

Strikes in France are common and often accompanied by protests.

French people are known for their propensity to complain, which is seen as a social function rather than a sign of unhappiness.

The stereotype of the mime originates from historical French theater and was popularized by figures like Jean Gaspar de Bourrelle and Marcel Marceau.

The striped top, or 'magnet', is a French clothing cliche that became fashionable due to Coco Chanel and is now a wardrobe staple.

The beret is a symbol of French culture, despite its origins in the Basque country and being traditionally worn by shepherds.

The stereotype of French people not showering often is considered outdated and linked to historical lack of running water.

France is known for its perfume culture, which contrasts with the stereotype of body odor.

Smoking is seen as a romantic gesture in France, despite the decline in smokers due to public policy.

The number of stereotypes about the French may be due to the country's prominence in popular imagination and as a top tourist destination.

Stereotypes about the French often contain a grain of truth but are often exaggerated and perpetuated by media and popular culture.

Cultural differences can contribute to the formation of stereotypes, which can reduce complex cultures to simple ideas.

The French are often seen as romantic and passionate, with a tradition of seduction and public displays of affection.

French cuisine is a source of national pride, with a focus on gastronomy and regional specialties.

Some French culinary cliches, such as eating snails and frog legs, are true but not consumed daily.

The show invites viewers to engage by tweeting questions or reaching out on social media.

Transcripts

[Music]

hello and welcome to this 40th episode

of french connections plus this show is

all about exploring the intricacies of

life here in france and tearing apart

some of the common cliches about the

french and there are so many stereotypes

always fascinating frequently baffling

france is a country that non-french

people love to try and boil down into

preconceived notions so what are these

top cliches about the french and why are

some of them so hard to wash off join us

for this french connections plus a

special show on french stereotypes

[Music]

we asked you for some of your favorite

cliches about the french and boy there

were a lot one of the biggest ones that

kept coming up was that the french are

always on strike at least that's what

both stuart russell and kathy thomas

said well la greve certainly does pepper

everyday life here in france whether

it's public transport ground to a halt

air traffic controllers keeping planes

on the ground or even your local pool

can be shut because staff is on strike

but i think this is such a visible

cliche because a strike is often

accompanied by a protest a la

manifestation now that's another

stereotype that's definitely a true one

french people don't hesitate to take to

the streets usually to defend their

hard-earned games and this leads to

another stereotype about the french and

that is that we complain all the time

now it is true that the french love to

grumble

but i think this is a cultural

difference that can get lost in

translation it's not that french people

are in a bad mood all the time it's that

complaining has kind of a social

function people here don't complain so

much about very personal things it's

more about the strikes bureaucracy the

government it's a conversational tick a

way of doing small talk the way the

british will talk about the weather it's

easy to bond over something that's not

personal apart from all the small talk

the french can also be very tight-lipped

but that's a whole different stereotype

if you ask a foreigner to imagine a

perfect french cliche often a peculiar

image comes to mind a mime the funny

thing though is if you ask french people

many aren't even aware of the

association

so why the mime

well back in the day the silent art form

was a big deal though the french

certainly didn't invent it in europe

miming dates back to the early greeks

and romans later in 15th century italy

it was absorbed into the hugely popular

comedia del arte

thanks to traveling street performers it

finally came to france in the late 16th

century and it flourished with mime

schools popping up around the country

over the years the popular genre was

sustained by a long line of chalk-faced

frenchmen

in the 1820s jean gaspar de burro the

father of modern miming developed piero

a lovable and lovesick character

but perhaps the most famous mime in

recent history was marcel marxo

performances of his persona beeped the

clown achieved international acclaim

marxo put his mime act to heroic good

use while working for the french

resistance during the second world war

and helping jewish children escape

occupied france

his first major performance was in front

of 3 000 troops after the liberation of

paris which may explain why he was such

a big hit in the united states maxo says

he was inspired by charlie chaplin

meanwhile he's credited with inspiring

his friend michael jackson and a certain

moonwalk

[Music]

as you just saw french mimes are often

depicted wearing a stripey top it's

known here as a magnet and it's a real

french clothing cliche classic the

striped top originally comes from the

region of brittany back in the day

sailors le macha wore them as

undergarments and later it was adopted

as a uniform in the navy la marin now la

marina went mainstream and became a

popular garment for men women and

children thanks to the designer coco

chanel now she made it fashionable all

the way back in 1916 but since then

other designers like yves saint laurent

or especially jean-paul gaultier have

made the magnet a real part of their

collections these days it's a staple

that you'll find in many french people's

wardrobe and that can't be said for

another accessory that a lot of people

associate with the french

the beret

soft and round like a crep warm

waterproof and practical the beloved

beret has become the symbol of all

things french along with the baguette of

course

this quintessentially garlic hat has

been adopted as a fashion item around

the world from pop stars and royalty to

bohemian hipsters and revolutionary

fighters not to mention a certain emily

in paris

abroad people certainly associate the

beret with france but do french people

really wear them

traditionally made out of wool the beret

has been around since the middle ages in

france people call it le bere basque

from the basque country but it was

actually shepherds in the neighboring

bayan region who developed it

gascon

snug in the front flipped back tilted on

the side there are several ways of

donning the hat

be it in summer fall winter or spring

the beret is an accessory for men and

women alike and even part of the french

military uniform

though it goes in and out of trendiness

the beret remains a fashion staple and

an eternal symbol of french elegance

when it comes to cliches some are hard

to wash off take for example the notion

that french people never shower tias

aguilar wrote to say the french eat

garlic in bed and prefer stinky cheese

to cover their body odor for the record

he did say it's part of what makes them

likable when people think of us

frenchies a common image that comes to

mind is the cartoon character pepe le

pew le pew a skunk which is paradoxical

because france is also known for its

vibrant perfume culture well maybe that

does make sense actually back in the day

access to running water was limited but

today most french people say that

stereotype is outdated perhaps the

stinky french person reputation is

linked to another cliche and that is

that france is a chain smoking nation

now this is one of the biggest culture

shocks for tourists when they come to

france smoking is still associated with

the arts and culture rather than a tacky

lack of self-control it's seen as a

romantic almost rebellious gesture a

rejection of a puritan society obsessed

with self-betterment things are changing

though thanks to public policy the

number of smokers has dropped

dramatically in france but even as

things change some stereotypes are just

hard to stamp out

[Music]

to poke a little further into the

seemingly bottomless pit that are french

cliches i'm joined by lindsay tramuta

thank you so much for being with us

today on french connections thanks for

having me so you are a paris-based

journalist and author of the book the

new parisienne which is all about

tearing apart stereotypes it seems like

the number of stereotypes about the

french is a little exaggerated compared

to the size of the country i mean if you

compare it to neighboring countries

germany or or spain there seems to be

more cliches about the french why this

obsession about the french i think first

of all france looms large in a big way

in

popular imagination in fascination

you know certainly americans have been

coming here for generations and

generations and it is still

the most visited country in the world so

you know when you when you think of it

that way it's sort of normal that our

attention naturally

directs

uh toward any sort of story or idea that

comes out of that country so you've been

living in paris for over 15 years now

you're familiar with the locals what

percentage of these stereotypes are true

i mean i think when you talk about

stereotypes in general there's always a

nugget of truth i mean that's where

they're they're coming from

and

ultimately when you consider that why

stereotypes persist about anybody in

general or any nation it's our way of

making sense of the world it's a way of

understanding ourselves and our nation

in relationship to others but

unfortunately given how tribal we are

that can that can come with you know

negative qualifiers and then they get

perpetuated by popular culture media um

you know things like war any opportunity

that can allow these ideas to be

amplified and considered truth and so

it's very hard to shake them off and how

much do you think these stereotypes are

just cultural differences that get lost

in translation for sure i think there's

an element

of of truth related to cultural

differences but i think it is

um often

blown up

in order to again to make sense of a

people or a place

but then it reduces them and and that's

you know that's the big danger of of

stereotypes and particularly the most

pernicious of them

uh which is that it reduces

an entire set of people

to a few

half-truths or

near truths or embellished truths and

and that's what's so dangerous about

stereotype and and you know you see that

even now perpetuated with

big television shows about you know that

have featured france prominently emily

in paris

my favorite topic of conversation um

but you see it in literature you see it

in in politics i think you have to look

at all ways all of the ways that people

consume

ideas about places and people other than

themselves and you can find the source

of why they endure lindsay thank you so

much for being with us today on french

connection thank you

[Music]

[Music]

cliches aren't always negative many of

you pointed out that france and the

french are very romantic emma franks

wrote france is the country of love

while charles g said good kissers maybe

it's not such a cliche the french do

have the reputation of being passionate

first-class lovers i mean just look at

any hollywood film and it's true that we

have a lot going for us for instance

french has been called the language of

love the french have a long-standing

tradition with seduction seen as part of

the pleasure-driven lifestyle and

whether it's sex or pda it's just not

that taboo here even cheating isn't as

shunned as it is in some other countries

having said that things like french

flirting or chivalry galentri are coming

under increasing scrutiny in the wake of

the metoo movement there is one form of

love that's not controversial however

and that is our love of food even though

it's true that at times we eat some

questionable dishes for instance sylvie

leslie said that french people eat

snails and frog legs all the time and

don't forget french onion soup okay they

do eat those things some of the times

just not every day what is true is that

the french worship food whether it's

wine and cheese regional specialties

gastronomy is a real way of life and i'm

proud to say that that cliche is one

hundred percent true well that's all the

time we have for today's show thanks so

much for watching and don't forget you

can tweet your own questions at

fillville minnow or reach out on social

media and we'll see you soon for another

episode of french connections plus

[Music]