French civilization and cultural history

French Civilization

True

Edith Piaf

True

True

True

Louis XIV

a Berlioz

Debussy

Ravel

Satie

True

Josephine Baker

Django Reinhart & Stephane Grappelli

Johnny Hallyday

MC Solaar

Francoise Hardy

Serge Gainsbourg

Pulsar

Khaled

Louis XIV

Racine -- Phedre, Corneille -- Le Cid, Moliere -- Tartuffe

False

True

Moulin Rouge, Folies Bergeres

Beckett, Ionesco

Avignon

Lully

Carmen -- Bizet

Orphee en enfers -- Offenbach

Pierre Beauchamp recorded the first five classic feet positions of ballet

Coluche

Debbouze

Joly

We watch this to see what a corporate American remake of a French story might look like. We don't learn much from watching this film, at least nothing that would not be learned by reading the original work by Dumas. An open-ended question like "what kind of questions are raised…" is absurd. Any one human being could ask a million different types of questions about this film. The prompt really needs to be more specific here. I could ask some questions -- is that what is required? A question might be about the cultural and social situation surrounding d'Artagnan that would compel him to want to leave home seeking adventure. Another question might be why Dumas felt this a good setting and background for his story.

Question 2. What territory is this? France? France grows and shrinks with the power of its rulers. During that time, France was a collection of different regions with their own dialects and cultures, but these areas were unified under a crown. Thus, the size of the areas under the crown were roughly equivalent to the strength of the crown.

Question 3. The list is written in French because the subject is France. That is the relevant language for such a list. Some things might have been written in Latin, but it would depend on the audience. If there are no queens, that is because the rules of French royal succession did not allow for queens. This was according to Salic law, which had a rule of agnatic succession.

Question 4. Salic law was the civil code of the Frankish kingdom in the Middle Ages. This law governed succession of the French crown since the days of Clovis and continued to govern succession of his crown and other rules of succession in France. A key element was agnatic succession, which excluded females. Further, other rules were a part of Salic law. The Hundred Years' War was about the succession to the French throne. Philip VI was crowned as the French king, because Salic law dismissed all males who had come through a female line. The female line in question was that of Isabella, with her son Edward claiming to be the closest heir to the throne. The war was the result of the conflict, because Edward was English and Philip was French, leading to conflict between the two countries over the French crown.

Question 5. Joan of Arc is presented as a uniquely strong heroic character as presented in the movie. It is difficult to ascertain if this is close to the reality, but Joan of Arc did enjoy success as a leader in her time. The film gives a little bit of being in that period, though it is still a Hollywood film, but provides some visuals and more importantly it provides a good sense of how important Joan of Arc was to the French civilization of the time and since.

Question 6. Mont St. Michel was constructed more with ecclesiastical motives in mind, as it was monastic in nature. However, it gained political power over time, and was involved in bolstering William of Normandy's claim to the throne. This importance made it a political target, but it was well-defended. As a recognizable symbol of France during the Hundred Years' War, Mont St.-Michel was noted for how it resisted English attacks. The Abbey of the Loire Valley was founded as a monastery by the king. Its role in French history includes as a symbol of resistance to the Vichy government -- its symbol as a prison during this time is an important symbol for France. Notre Dame is an important religious symbol, is important as the cathedral for Paris.