Assignment: In Sixty Million Frenchmen Can't Be Wrong, read
the chapters assigned below. Write a response, following the
Reader Response Guidelines. React to and comment upon
at least 2 of your classmates responses.
Tip: If you are short on inspiration (or simply stuck!), the following questions will help guide your critical reflections.
Chapter 3: Using
specific examples from the chapter, describe the French notion of privacy and
compare and contrast it with your own cultural norms.
Chapter 3 discusses the private lives of the French. What we consider to be private is typically very open in France. Americans will ask about someone’s name and occupation at the drop of a hat, but that would be considered rude in France. The French also believe that there is something wrong in a relationship when the couple does not contradict each other in public. On the other hand, the French believe that a subject such as money is extremely private. I would have to say that Americans can also find the issue of finances private. In more upper class societies it may the case, but certainly in the lower and middle classes. I believe it can come off as rude if someone asks how you make a living in such a low paying job, I know I would be offended. Although I would find it very hard to start a conversation with a stranger and not to find out their name at least somewhere in the conversation. I could really understand how the author’s father could feel offended when the fig farmer did not give up his name without first having to think about it. It amazes me how different cultures can be sometimes on things that would seem so simple. In this chapter, I really enjoyed the story of the shutters, and I really liked that the authors took the time to get to the bottom of the mystery. Something else that I found rather intriguing is the difference in dining. Even when I was in France, I did not pay attention to how formal dining was at all times. I really wish that I had paid more attention. My final thought on Chapter 3 is France’s outlook on political leaders and their love lives. I truly admire the French for their practice of “whatever happens in the bedroom, stays in the bedroom”. I am so sick and tired of all the political sex scandals filling our headlines when there are far more important things to worry about.
RépondreSupprimerI definitely agree with you! Especially on your last point. I'm sick of seeing sex scandals left and right in the news, since there are many more important things that could be reported on. The way they go about dining is interesting, too, since it seems like they are very open to inviting strangers to dinner. Also that they don't snack throughout the day, and eat at certain times (which isn't exactly a bad thing!).
SupprimerYes, their respect for one another's private life truly is remarkable. In the chapter Barlow and Nadeau said that many french journalists had known their ex-president had a mistress and illegitimate daughter but had no interest in making that information known to the public. It seems as though they are more concerned with how a politician runs the country than what he does in his free time. It is actually sort of inspiring. In the U.S, if journalists had found out Barack Obama had a mistress and illegitimate daughter, it would be made known on every single news-based radio and television program across the country and stay in the spotlight for weeks, months, or the rest of the politician's reign.
SupprimerYou're right! If an American official ran for office with that sort of reputation, then he or she would never get elected. I believe this is becasue as Americans, we believe that what a person does in their private life determines what type a person they are. The French, however, believe that all that is private and as long as they're doing their job it's okay.
SupprimerI think this chapter is particularly interesting, since I’m also taking an intercultural studies class. We have discussed cultural norms, with privacy being one of the topics. I find it incredibly interesting that it’s considered rude in France to ask someone’s name, where here it seems to be a good way to start a conversation. The first story was of the author and some friends inspecting a tree of (then) unknown fruit. The gardener approaches them and randomly initiates conversation, then eventually invites them into his house. Here in the United States, I don’t think after some 30 minutes of conversation that we would invite total strangers into our houses, especially not without knowing the person’s name. Also, here in the U.S., it’s acceptable to ask for someone’s name or ask for someone’s occupation in the public sphere of conversation, but seems to violate a rule of privacy in France. In France, however, it’s okay to kiss in public or to argue with a significant other, but here it may be perceived as a dysfunctional relationship to argue in public. Relating to arguing with a partner in public, it’s almost expected in a way, since it would be considered strange in France if couples were always getting along, as if nothing was wrong. In France, government officials being unfaithful to their wife or husband wouldn’t be a big deal, as those particular actions have to do with someone’s personal life in the bedroom. This lack of interest in the private lives of government officials even extends to money scandals, and a reporter reporting facts could get in trouble, even if everything was true, which is strange that corruption goes unquestioned a lot there! Lastly, the author talks about going to a party, and the guests were almost equally French and American. In the French half of the room, people were to the point of interrupting others to get their point accors, which wasn’t really their intention. The author describes them yelling at each other as them wanting to “score points” in the discussion, rather than them trying to get a point across. Here in the U.S., we tend to have a reason to talk about something, not to yell and seem to know what we’re talking about. Overall, I think the differences are very interesting, but could easily get any American feeling out of place if they were to visit France without prior knowledge to their cultural norms.
RépondreSupprimerI would find it very disturbing to be in the middle of a shouting match during a conversation among the French. If I did not know any better I would even consider that everyone was coming off very rude because in American unless you have something particularly useful to add to a conversation, then you keep your mouth shut. I like many aspects of the French culture, but this is one that I would have trouble adjusting to.
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SupprimerThe French attitude towards sharing names really is fascinating. In the U.S, the most important part about meeting someone new is learning their name, that is what sets the groundwork for the rest of their conversation. However, the French seem to be a lot more open to socializing with strangers than most Americans are (inviting random people into your house and providing them with food and drink). A situation like the one described in chapter 3 sounds like it would be very unlikely to occur in American Culture. The French are beginning to sound like quite the little paradox. I would really like to stay in france for an extended period of time to find out more about their customs and traditions firsthand.
SupprimerI thought the story about their friend's party with the half english and the half french was very interesting. even though they were just stepping on to the other side of the room they had to completely change how they interacted with people. if you were talking to the english you made small talk and ask what their names were and what kind of jobs they had, but on the french side they had to jump into a meaningful conversation and argue to keep their spot in it, but by the end they exchanged names and hoped to have another conversation.
SupprimerChapter 3 brings attention to the French conception of privacy. Their ideas on what is public and what is private sound a lot different than the expectations held by most Americans. I thought it was surprising that people invite strangers into their homes and entertain them like Mr. Brossard and his wife entertained the authors, but are not comfortable asking or giving names. Furthermore, topics that are very commonplace to talk about in America (like what your job is) among newly met people are very rare in France. Maybe it's because the French find these topics boring or just flat out unimportant and would rather talk about food, film or literature. I am not sure. Another habit I found cool was the importance of saying hello and goodbye to the employees of various businesses. As someone who works in a cafe/delicatessen, I think the value of a customer saying hello or goodbye is overlooked. It is a nice way to show respect and treat an employee as a fellow human rather than something who is only there to serve you.
RépondreSupprimerI also think that the French have an admirable way of allowing public figures and celebrities a degree of secrecy. In America, politicians and celebrities are always under scrutiny for one thing or another, especially aspects of their personal life. For example, the French didn't really seem to mind when they found out their former President Francois Mitterand had a mistress and an illegitimate child. In fact, journalists claimed to have known that information for decades but never bothered to share it. If that had occurred in America, it would have been front page news for weeks. It is safe to say that the French value their privacy. However, that does not mean that they are rude or exclusive or anything like that because its clear they can be very sociable, seemingly more so than Americans. They merely have a different understanding of privacy.
i agree with you that we should adopt the hello/goodbye Tradition in our country. Its nice when a customer comes up to me at my job and actually cares and want to be polite instead of just getting what they came there for.
Supprimeri also agree with you that it's nice that the french give their politicians and celebrities some privacy, but i think when they have affairs it should be publicized because they wronged someone and the public needs to know what kinda of people are running their nation.
I agree that the French value their privacy and that does not make them rude or exclusive. I happen to really like some of their values on privacy, but then there are others that I would have a hard time adjusting to. The hardest would be not knowing someone's name.
SupprimerChapter 3 was all about the privacy of the French. French privacy is very different from American privacy. The authors talked about how they met this man who owned a fruit tree, the man invited them into his home and had a snack plate for them and they talked for a very long time, but they didn’t even know his name. In France it is rude to ask strangers their name or what occupation they have. In America these questions are one of the first things you ask a stranger, but the French think that these questions are rude and private. Because of the different views of privacy Americans often see the French as being aloof, or sneaky. In America the media is very involved in the sexual relations of politicians or celebrities. The French reporters know about all of the politician’s affairs and don’t even think about publicizing them. In some ways this is good, but on the other and I think it’s good for the public to know what kind of person is running their country. What surprised me the most was that politicians that were committed for crimes have been reelected because the French feel that once they have been punished for their crime then that becomes their personal business again. Another way that the French are private is how they display their houses. At night they always close all of the shutters and close the blinds. When people come over they are restricted to the living room and all other doors are closed. In Paris, the houses actually have their backs facing the street.
RépondreSupprimerThe French are in many ways more private than Americans, but they are less private in other ways. The French argue in public, they have a smaller personal space, in the work place everyone shakes hands when they get there and before they leave, and eating is seen as a public occasion. One of the more interesting things that I read about was when the authors went to the cafeteria and everyone appeared to be so formal. Everyone ate with the napkin on their lap, the meat was a curtain way and everything was arranged in courses. To an American this would seem like a formal occasion, but the French have made this the norm.
I thought this chapter was especial interesting and I want to get into a conversation with someone about Frenchmen so I can share my new found knowledge. I would defiantly recommend this passage to someone.
I agree, it is odd that the French believe that argue in public, when here in America, we have this beliefs that arguments are a private matter. I also find it odd that the French freely elect officials that they know to have cheated on their significant other.
SupprimerChapter three of, "Sixty Million Frenchmen Can't Be Wrong" is all about how the French view their privacy. Within this this chapter we learn that the French are much more selective about their privacy. For example, the authors had been treated various things, such as a private wine tasting, a conversation over l'apero, and the use of a couple's car. All of these had been done without the mention of either party's name. Compared to the American culture, this is very strange. Usually, in our culture the first thing we do is introduce ourselves. We do this because we like to know who it is we are speaking with; however, in France, they seem to care more about a persons personality. If those individuals had not trusted the authors, I doubt they would have been keen on offering their car. Another example of the way French exemplify privacy is using their shutters. In America, shutters are almost strictly used for decoration, yet in France they use them routinely to shut out the world during their private hours. This stems from the period in French history when tax collectors would spy into homes to determine how much of a tax that individual should be charged. That system has long been abandoned, but the French's tax evasion reflex still remains. The French also believe that what happens in the bedroom is a private matter. Initially, I believe most Americans would agree; however, the French respect that for all of their citizens, including the President. The French do not believe that it is their business to know what goes on in the President's quarters. This is very much unlike the American's who like to shed the light on all of our political figure's private lives. Before reading this chapter, I had had no idea that the French have such differing perspective's on what constitutes as public and private matters. After reading this passage, I now know that the French are much more selective about what information they deem public knowledge. One thing that surprised me in this passage was the French tradition of saying "bonjour" when entering a store and "au revoir" upon exiting the store. I suppose this is a foreign concept in America because we have more chain-stores than mom-n-pa shops. I would recommend this passage to anyone interested in having a polite conversation with a French citizen, otherwise things may turn ugly and words won't be able to save you.
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