France
Stereotypes
How they see others:
Norwegians:
healthy and honest, but
lack culture (WYSIWYG)
British:
basically odd and slightly ridiculous
"les roastbeefs"
Americans:
a country without history
brash -- no sense of formality or reserve
no culture -- fast food
Belgians:
the object of French jokes -- no style
Swiss:
the other object of French jokes -- square
Germans:
basically bullyish
How they see themselves:
incomprehensible to anyone not French
a lover of ideas
a lover of life
a lover of fashion and style
an experimenter -- projects and plans
a romantic
a philosopher
an intellectual
perhaps a snob-- but based on "good taste"
French stereotypes 1
France
Variety of nature -- both "southern" and "northern"
two thirds of land used for agriculture: the village life
Class -- despite "egalité" old divisions remain: grande bourgeoisie - old
names, bonne bourgeoisie - younger, petite bourgeoisie. Nobility keeps
low profile
'Right lycées' lead to Grandes Ecoles which lead to upper strata of
civil service: Grand Corps d'Etat -- "old-boy network"
Style--"Nous vous prions d'agréer, Monsieur, l'assurance de nos
sentiments respecteux" (We beg you to believe in the assurance of our
respectful sentiments): "Yours sincerely"
"Being stylized is as important as having style"
Formality: "Monsieur" (used as "sir" was a century ago) -- language
embodies dignity
Hand shaking: not firm grip type, but important
Greeting kiss: left cheek, right cheek, left cheek -- formal and
stylized
"Tu" and "Vous": important social signals -- to be 'tutoi-ed' gives
status of close friend
The importance of "le discours": discussion, reason, intellect
Humor: like physical humor (mime) and clowning, plays on word
Culture: Long literary traditions -- Proust 1871-1922 (À la recherche du
temps perdu), Voltaire 1694-1788, Molière 1622-1673,
Flaubert (Madame Bovary) 1821-1880, Racine, Rabelais, Hugo, Dumas, de
Montaigne (essays), La Fontaine (fables) & etc
French stereotypes 2
France
The importance of philosophy: Descartes 1596-1650 analytical geometry,
universal proofs (cogito, ergo sum - I think therefore I am)
Art: Renoir, Monet, Rodin, Gauguin, Chagall
Music: Debussy, Ravel
Eating: Good food still of supreme importance, two-hour lunch on
decline, but still found. Dinner usually between 7.30-9.00. Food as
culture
Drinking: wine as culture
Small talk: food and wine; also art, culture & politics
Being on time: allow at least 15 minutes
Work ethic: it is there, but you should not look like you are working-"the art of invisible work"
Business dress codes: stylish
Body language: large vocabulary (fingertip kiss, hand across forehead,
shrug of shoulders, back of hand on cheeks, pursed lips)
The French language: franglais is out. Noel Coward on what God and
de Gaulle would talk about: "That depends on how good God's French
is."
Economy: leading agricultural nation in Europe, but only one twentieth
of GDP and one twelfth workforce. Service accounts for two thirds of
GDP and one half workforce. Manufacturing accounts for one fourth of
GDP and workforce.
French stereotypes 3
France
Trade unions: not popular, 15% -- management good at innovative work
schemes, perks, flexi-time & etc.
Holidays: "le camping" universal and inexpensive-- take their
recreation seriously, tents and equipment
Tour de France: most popular sporting event in France
Retailing extremes: supermarkets -- Hypermarché. extreme
specialization -- shops sell one thing
Health: the liver & the pharmacy
Systems: "le plan" France Telecom
nuclear power, nuclear testing
1970 -1980,
TGV (rapid trains),
politics: "power is chic, attractive, seductive, and one should dress to
look the part" (cf US & UK)
Sex scandals: why? e.g. Mitterrand
(cf US & UK)
Government: President (Jacques Chirac) elected for 7 years. Appoints
prime minister (Lionel Jospin) and cabinet.
Parliament: National assembly -- Deputies (577) elected for 5-year
terms from single-member districts. Senate-(321 senators) 9-year
terms from 95 departments (elected by electoral college)
French stereotypes 4