French Icons: Marianne, Astérix, and the Rooster

Marianne is the feminine symbol of the French Republic and

represents the daring bravery of Frenchwomen fighting for
the Revolution, for freedom. She wears a red Phrygian cap,
similar to one worn by emancipated Roman slaves, as a symbol
of liberty and the republic. The very words republic, revolution,
and freedom are feminine in French. Marianne also appears on French postage stamps of various
denominations and as a statue in every town hall in the
country.

Astérix (René goscinny, Albert Uderzo) , the inseparable companion of Obélix in the famous
French comic book series, is loved by European children
and adults alike. He and his friends are symbols of the
French inclination toward resistance and rebellion. Fighting
for the survival of Gaul—later to become France—under the
Roman occupation, he represents the clever fellow who uses
his brain more than his biceps, even after gaining strength
from the magical potion of the Druid Panoramix.

The rooster is to the French what the bald eagle is to

Americans. Yet a rooster does not fly high in the sky, and it
does not soar to reach high peaks and discover new horizons. Rather, a rooster wakes up the entire
village at dawn, attracts
attention from others, and never retreats from his defiant and
domineering attitude toward the rest of the coop. Still, some French roosters like to remind everyone
that France has awakened the entire world to the beauty
and grace of its civilization, culture, and language. The brilliantly plumed cock is the first to
announce the dawn of a new day to everybody, dominates his
immediate world, seduces and fecundates all the unresisting
hens, destroys his rivals, and crows triumphantly from the top
of the dungheap.

French cultural elements

The French think of themselves as supremely rational beings (esprit critique)—
logical and intellectual. They have a high regard for
reasoning, and their schooling, particularly secondary education,
places a premium on philosophy regardless of the
student’s area of specialization. Unlike in the United States,
where intellectualism is vaguely suspect, it is a high compliment to refer to a French person as an
intellectual, and the
realm of ideas for their own sake is valued and respected. Cartesianism, or Cartesian thinking, refers
to the
typically French way of reasoning or working through a problem.
It is characterized by an emphasis on the proper approach,
the right method for addressing the situation rather
than on practical applications
The Republic. Liberté, Egalité, Fraternité!—the clarion call
of the Revolution—still resounds in the soul of every French
citizen.

Centralization of authority. Louis XIV was

not speaking metaphorically when he said, “L’état, c’est moi!”
(“I am the state!”). Strong leaders from Napoléon to de
Gaulle have personified and ruled the French state, but even
when not wielded by a single individual, power in France has
always been concentrated. Paris is not just the capital but virtually the center of the
French universe. It is the nation’s political, literary, historic,
economic, artistic, financial, and cultural heart in a way that
no single U.S. city can approach. Look again at the map of
l’Hexagone and you can see that all roads—and railways, for
that matter—lead to Paris. The country’s system of transport
is built on the assumption that everyone wants to, or has to,

Education. Public education—“gratuite, obligatoire, et

laïque” (“free, compulsory, and secular”)

Aesthetic Sense. Many Americans are struck by how well

the French dress themselves and their children. They admire
the elegance of French adults and the elaborate fashions
worn by French children. Even popping out for a baguette at
the boulangerie (bakery) around the corner may require proper
dress, hairstyle, and makeup—a source of irritation for expat
American women used to running errands in comfortable
sweats, sneakers, and baseball cap.

Perceptions and Stereotypes

The French are :

 are culture and language elitists; they are arrogant

 seek perfection before taking action.
 engage in endless discussions without coming to a decision.
 are aloof and unfriendly.
 • openly show emotion, are temperamental.
 are reluctant to change.
 • show no respect for rules, procedures, and deadlines.
Stereotypes and Generalizations about Americans. Americans
• are loud, vulgar, unsophisticated, and uncultured.

 are slaves to a money culture that is no culture.

 believe that the American way is the only way.
 act first, then think; shoot from the hip.