Some time ago I read an article in Times Magazine, claiming that French culture was tead.
"Once admired for the dominating excellence of its writers, artists and musicians, France today is a wilting power in the global cultural marketplace."
I was not even upset by its general statement, but even more by the arguments it provided for its conclusion.
"[N]obody takes culture more seriously than the French... Every French town of any size has its annual opera or theater festival, nearly every church its weekend organ or chamber-music recital... All of these mighty oaks being felled in France's cultural forest make barely a sound in the wider world."
Fortunately, I was not the only one that felt the need to defend the French as even the English (who always find themselves arguing with the French) were outraged by the American claims. The Guardian wrote a full page arguing that the article, probably said more about contemporary American culture than about the French one.
I mean, really, to claim for the "Deaht of French culture" is not only attacking French grounds - but Europe in general and perhaps culture at large. This is not to say that French culture is the world culture, but merely that French culture is embedded in a world culture.
"Once admired for the dominating excellence of its writers, artists and musicians, France today is a wilting power in the global cultural marketplace."
I was not even upset by its general statement, but even more by the arguments it provided for its conclusion.
"[N]obody takes culture more seriously than the French... Every French town of any size has its annual opera or theater festival, nearly every church its weekend organ or chamber-music recital... All of these mighty oaks being felled in France's cultural forest make barely a sound in the wider world."
Fortunately, I was not the only one that felt the need to defend the French as even the English (who always find themselves arguing with the French) were outraged by the American claims. The Guardian wrote a full page arguing that the article, probably said more about contemporary American culture than about the French one.
I mean, really, to claim for the "Deaht of French culture" is not only attacking French grounds - but Europe in general and perhaps culture at large. This is not to say that French culture is the world culture, but merely that French culture is embedded in a world culture.
Some French- English culture (a Jacques Brel- influenced song from a French group singing in English, with an Middle Eastern influenced singer) Beirut - "Elephant Gun"
And another one, live on the streets where the culture lies, instead of in the blockbusters that Times Magazine searches for it.
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