If you turn back the clock and read Close Your Eyes and Pretend All's Okay posted on November 12 you'll see that a kind soul named Anonymous (that chap is as ubiquitous as Forrest Gump, although I think I see the hidden hairy hand of an ex-Eagle Rocker involved in this) made two comments regarding my comment that the French making Catherine Deneueve the model for Marianne was a step down from Brigitte Bardot. To paraphrase my correspondent, I was committing a crime by saying that Deneueve was a step down from B.B. Read the comments before you read any further (or is it farther?).
Finished reading? Here's the scoop from Bloody Nib Manor. Mme. Deneueve was, and is, a remarkably beautiful woman. Her beauty, though, is of the architectural type. It's rather cold, though classic. She is a woman as imagined by a French philosopher/mathematician trying to appeal to the Deconstructionalists and Post Modernists. Has anyone besides me noticed that since Deneueve hit thirty when she smiled it seemed that she was doing you a favor by noting your mere existence. Mme. Deneueve is the Marianne of the French Academy -- a cool, logical (and one wonders when the French traded their vaunted talent for logic for a short term pragmatism that would make William James abandon the philosophy if he had lived long enough). Mme. Deneueve is a sort of Athena version of Marianne, except not so wise.
The almost divine Mme. Bardot, on the other hand, is, and was, a people's Marianne. She may not have the classical beauty of Mme. Deneueve, but she is much more attractive aesthetically, personally and sexually. B.B. is not just French, she is from the earth of France as it once was. She transcends class, region and time. She can be a Breton, a Parisianne, from Marseilles, the Alcelse (sp?) Lorraine, the Vendi or the French Alps. She represents a France that was, and not just a France of philosophers or salon loungers. The average ethnic crapaud has as much idea of Deconstructionalism or Post-Modernism as does the average Iowa corn farmer. He's not interested in, whenever he thinks of it, existentialism or Sartre or Camus or Derrida. He's interested in the survival of his nation. Brigitte Bardot represents the nation of France, as it was and as many Froggies think it is, much better than Mme. Deneueve who seems to think of nothing much more than herself and the appearance of others.
Consider this fact: B.B. has made several publicized comments about the Islamization of France. In fact she's been sued over her comments and has had to pay penalties for her comments. B.B. cares for France. Mme. Deneueve, on the other hand, has only made the controversial comment that the reason that American women are overweight is that they eat too much bread. Who cares about France and who cares about herself? And just remember that B.B starred in a silly movie called Babette Goes to War. The movie took place during World War 2. Deneueve, on the other hand, has, as far as I know, only starred in war movies in which she is pretty much the victim.
Let's put it this way. Beauty is in many way subjective. All I know is that I'd rather have a cup of coffee or knock back a beer with B.B. than have champagne with Deneueve because in my mind Bardot is France and Deneueve is only an elite segment of said benighted nation.
Now let's get down to cases on the current unrest in France. If one watches the cable television news or reads the rags one would think that only cars have been burned by "disaffected" Islamic youth. But this, and the site is translation from the French so the grammar ain't great, shows that more than cars have been torched:Translated version of http://alexcorvus.blogspot.com/
A French Jewish philosopher has a few thoughts about what's going on in France:Haaretz - Israel News - What sort of Frenchmen are they? . Read the whole article.
And finally, if you've got a few bucks to spend, got to Amazon.com and order the novel The Camp of the Saints and read it. You'll see that some Froggies were more prescient than others.
2 comments:
Ginger or Marianne?
Your comments about Ms.Bardot are well taken. However, it is precisely that she is from the earth and has a universal appeal which makes her accessible to everyone that she is in some ways, less a fitting image of Marianne.
Ms. Deneueve could only EVER be French.
Additionally, my comments about the merits of the Bardot vs Deneuve as the image of Marianne were not based on personality, intelligence, vibrance, politics or which I would rather sit down with and have a beer.
Rather it was based on the fact that by mere accident of birth, Deneuve looks like a statue even before being carved in stone, that there is a regal, rather than earthy sensuality, which commonly befits a national image.
My comment about the indifferent passion of the French was meant as a slight jab and tounge-in-cheek.
Similar logic would lead me to think an image of Lady Liberty would be better based on Grace Kelly than Pamela Lee Anderson....Pam is NO Bardot by a long shot, but she does have the same kind of earthy sensuality, even if it is enhanced by modern technology.
As to having a beer with Ginger or Marianne...Me, Gillian and the professor and all us hairy knuckle ex eagle fans would pick the Bardot Marianne any day of the week!
Hi
First Anonymous here...I have no idea what that second Anonymous is talking about...you would think someone trying to sell something via net would at least try to make the attempt so seem intelligent and credible.
Most likely a fan of Mrs. Howell.
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