Final French Culture - Mr. Muse Catharina Gangl Using your class lecture and touring experiences: MOVEABLE FEAST -What is it you will remember about your time in Paris in 15 years? Paris - city of lights, love(s) or baguettes and croissants. Whichever ones heart desires. This multicultural, international and traditional city was where I chose to spend my ERASMUS semester. The main reason behind this decision was to improve my French and learn about the culture. But, I also wanted to experience the Parisian lifestyle. What has impressed me the most from the beginning and continued to impress is the grand complexity and ideal of greatness that accompanies this amazing culture. In my first walks I noticed the wideness of the streets, enormousness of the buildings and the majestic parks. Everything seems to be a reflection of the French pride and superiority, which they achieve by making Paris one of the most important cities in the world. This city attracts thousands of tourists, different businesses and people in search for a different life. The first monument we saw in Mr. Muses class was the Grand Palais and Petit Palais. While observing them, I was also able to notice for the first time the carelessness and boldness that defines the French. In a time span of 15 minutes there were 2 accidents on the Champs-Elysée and the drivers after a short discussion just drove on. 1
From there we walked to Invalides, which became my favorite monument in Paris. I lived close by it and would go with all my friends and visitors every chance I got. The chapel where Napoleons tomb lays was something incredible to behold. In the Dome Church, built in the 17 th century by Louis XIV, Napoleon was put in a huge hole in the center of the chapel made for this immense red quartzite tomb that rests upon a green granite base. Around it are the 12 Napoleon victories inscribed by Pradier. Also at Invalides there are different museums, such as the military museum of the French Army and the World Wars museums. I ve been twice to the WWs museums and it is one of my favorites. Being raised in Brazil and loving history, I learned a lot about the wars but never had a chance to see or experience much. This museum is structured to perfection and depicts the entire development in European politics that lead to both wars. Starting from the end of the 19 th century, how the territorial division and the different politics carried out by each country involved, showing videos from the event that broke out the war and to the end with many pictures, paintings and objects for demonstration. I was struck the most by finishing the WWI section and going on to WWII and seeing for the first time a real National socialist flag with the red background and the swastika. I will not forget the feeling I had upon seeing it. This section of the museum is also very well structures and has even more objects and depictions. Close to it lays the Musée Rodin, which not only has his most appreciated and incredible works such as The Thinker and Gates to Hell in bronze, there is a big villa with an even bigger garden in the middle of the 7 th district in Paris. The 2
Museum is at the Hôtel Biron, former workshop of Rodin, and was donated by the artist to the French state under the condition that it would be turned into a museum. There you find his sculptures and personal collection from other artists as well as Camille Claudels sculptures. Amongst his personal collection, you can find a painting by Van Gogh, Renoir and Monet! This was a very interesting surprise upon my first visit. I went there also a few times to just enjoy the afternoon sun and take pictures of The Thinker, Invalides and Eiffel Tour all together. I remember after this first group tour, I started thinking more deeply about what makes the French the way they are. In one of the Friday classes I learned that throughout history, the kings were prisoners in their kingdom and were afraid of the people. Being Brazilian, it impressed me the power that the French people always had against its government. This was better understood after reading 3
about the bastille and visiting Chateau de Vincennes. Although the prison does not exist any longer, the monument is a reminder of it and all its importance. The Louvre, being from the beginning the royal palace and the seat of power during centuries, was turned into a museum in the end of the 18 th century. At a time it was a center of exhibition where art was sold but know it holds the second largest collection of art in the world and is the most visited museum. My first visit was with the French culture class group and even though I m not a connoisseur, I do appreciate art. I was appalled upon entering the Denon wing to see my classmates pass right through, without a glance, two alfresco from Botticelli, which are in what became my favorite arches in the museum. After that I decided to do the tour by myself and by the time I arrived at La Giaconda, everybody was already leaving. I only went back there twice and am sorry to not have been able to see more. But will spend an entire day on my next visit. One very cultural and Parisian event was the Vogue Fashion night out. I m definitely coming back for more. On one night in September, all famous fashion brands open their stores at night to show off their new collection to the public. There are free champagne, beautiful clothes and great parties (if you are lucky to be invited to one). While walking down the rue St. Honore, the hard part was deciding in which store to go in. At Chanel we had great champagne, Bottega Veneta had amazing cocktails and Ferragamo had a hip DJ. During fashion week I was hoping to go to a show, but most are invitations only and the ones that weren t collided with my classes. But maybe one day! Another event that I will remember was the visit to Dali s house in Montmartre and the feeling that this area of artists gives. After the visit we all went to a fondue place that was very French and gave us more insight into the culture. 4
Monet is a very renowned artist and my friends and I went to his house and garden outside of Paris. It wasn t in the spring but beautiful nonetheless. I took the most beautiful pictures and after went to Musee de l Orangerie to see his Water Lilies breathtaking. At this time there was also a Frida Kahlo exhibition in this Museum and since I already know her husbands work was very excited to see hers. During my entire stay, I longed to see an exhibition at the Grand Palais. There was a small one for Dior, which was very nice but it wasn t possible to see much of the palais. In my last week, I went to see George Braque s life works. It went from Fauvism to his final works. I had a friend with me that could tell me about his life and the meaning of each art movement that he took part of. That and his paintings made the night memorable. It interested me a lot and I ve become a fan of this artist. I have always been interested in art, but only in Paris I was able to acquire the knowledge and the appreciation that makes it much more interesting to me. But being not only interested in culture but also sports, the bicycle ride at Bois de Boulogne was a lot of fun and even better with the wine bottle we took with us. The picnics my friends and I made at the feet of Notre Dame and the drinks we had at Quartier Latin mark my experience in Paris. I will never forget the feeling I got, when leaving my petite chambre de bonne and smelling the baked goods (Baguettes, cakes) from the Boulangerie close to my house and then passing this restaurant and smell the incredible food they were preparing! 5