A lively and informative short volume that shows that France is not a faded glory but rather a place that has defined and shaped the key issues of our contemporary world. In this Very Short Introduction, Vanessa Schwartz argues thatmodern France, as both a world stage and a global crossroads, is an essentialactor in the development of contemporary culture. Indeed, French is the only language other than English spoken on five continents, and more people still visit France than anywhere else in the world. French fashion continues to dominate haute couture and, at the same time, French people are at the forefront ofinternational "style,"which was as true in the first half of the twentieth century as it is today. This tension between "Frenchness" as both particular and transnational remainsone of the most compelling qualities of the culture. If French culture and culture producers are working around the globe, if Paris is an internationalcapital, the marvel is that France still manages to attract visitors from allover the world seeking out the drama of its historic castles and significant battlefields, its more than 300 cheeses and the renowned wines grown in its rich soil. INDICE: Introduction Chapter 1: The French Revolution, Politics and the Modern Nation Chapter 2: French and the Civilizing Mission Chapter 3: Paris and Magnetic Appeal Chapter 4: France Stirs up the Melting Pot Chapter 5: France Hurtles into the Future References Further reading Index
- ISBN: 978-0-19-538941-8
- Editorial: Oxford University
- Encuadernacion: Rústica
- Páginas: 160
- Fecha Publicación: 27/10/2011
- Nº Volúmenes: 1
- Idioma: Inglés