Oct 18, 2020
This episode features our frequent and very popular
guest Elyse Rivin. If you enjoy her episodes, please consider
supporting her on Patreon.
Everybody is talking about Emily in Paris. Elyse and I watched
it together and we took some notes on our reactions. I must confess
that we only watched two episodes, and we already have a lot to
say! This is our perspective from a French perspective. While Elyse
isn't technically French, she's lived in France so long she's
forgetting her English ;-) Click play, let’s see if you agree
with us!
Why Is Emily in Paris Getting So Much Attention?
Big name newspapers and magazines are all talking about this
show which is surprising because it is very new. It probably has to
do with the fact that we can't travel right now and going to Paris
on TV is better than not going at all. The fact that this show has
become controversial is also playing in its favor. People have to
see this show that everyone is talking about.
Emily in Paris is definitely not a documentary. It is more like
one stereotype after another and we point them out in our
conversation.
Emily in Paris Is Chock-Full of Stereotypes
Stereotypes are helpful in fiction because they allow the writer
to make points quickly. Nothing much happens in the show, but boy
do they spout stereotypes!
- French men prefer older women. This may be a reference to
President Macron, but it's a new stereotype about French
people.
- It's nice that they use French songs in the show but these are
not songs that we recognize.
- When she walks into her new apartment the concierge gives her
the evil eye because she doesn't say "bonjour". She says "hi" which
shows she assumes everyone knows English. You have to start off by
making an effort to speak some French. You should not walk into a
business situation in France with zero French and zero
understanding of why that's not acceptable.
- The 5th floor / 4th floor thing comes up several times. Ground
level is "rez-de-chaussé" in France, that's 0. We start counting
one above ground level whereas Americans say ground level is
1.
- The Realtor who shows her to her "Chambre de Bonne" that looks
nothing like a "Chambre de Bonne" hits on her saying it doesn't
matter that she has a boyfriend in America, she needs one in
France. The stereotype of French men all being overtly interested
in sex. They are typically more subtle than that.
- Emily shows up at the office on her first day with a shirt that
has an Eiffel Tower print on it. She's too flashy.
- Annie doesn't think the lady at the boulangerie would ever
correct someone for using the wrong article, but Elyse says it's
happened to her. Sylvie, the boss tells her not to bother to learn
French because she'd be terrible at it.
- On her first day at the job French people explain to Emily how
all Americans are fat while they smoke in the office. The
fat/smoker thing is established early on in the show and comes back
several times.
- There are many French people who believe that when you stop
smoking you gain 5 kilograms. But even with that, French people are
quitting smoking fast. Both Annie and Elyse know people who used to
smoke and have quit and none who are still smoking. It's only a
minority of French people who smoke today, this stereotype is
dated.
- Sylvie says "Without pleasure what are we? Germans?" This is
definitely something French people might say and something that
would make us laugh.
- Luke asks Emily why she is shouting. It is true that in France
kids are raised to keep their voice down generally and that
Americans would do well to be more discreet in France.
- The whole city is like Ratatouille! Really? That's what she
knows about France? Ratatouille and Saving Private Ryan? This is
the idiot American stereotype. Everyone gets stereotyped in Emily
in Paris!
- It is true that hall lights are all on short timers in France
and that's annoying. But electricity is expensive in France! Now we
have phones with flashlights so it's not such a big deal, but
growing up in France Annie always looked to see where the light
switch were.
- French people are lazy and don't go to work until 10:30 in the
morning. That stereotype is false. Taking a 3 hour lunch
isn't OK either any more for most people. This is an old trope
about French civil servants doing nothing all day and it's not been
correct for a long time.
- Nobody wants to have lunch with her on her first day. That's
possible. There are snobby work environments in France. Not most
places thankfully, but it happens.
- She goes to eat lunch alone on the benches of the Palais Royal
and that's where she meets Mindy. Do French women as scantily as
Mindy? French people hate the idea that women should dress
conservatively because men can't control themselves. But in reality
most French women dress conservatively at work.
- Mindy says "Some places people gossip behind your back, but
French people are mean to your face!" French people are very blunt.
Annie has an American friend who says "If you want to know the
truth, ask a child or a French person!"
- French people who wok in social media wouldn't be so afraid of
English that they run off. That stereotype is very overdone in the
show.
- The term "plouc" is something kids call one-another. It means
hick or farm boy. It doesn't fit Emily at all. And if Emily doesn't
speak French she would have no idea how to spell it. French people
would have chosen a much more refined insult because our language
is full of them.
- Luc says "Americans live to work and French people work to
live". This is actually true. French people value quality of life
over money.
- Emily is early to work on her second day. A co-worker tells her
not to show up early. That is true. In France you're supposed to be
competent and professional but not come across as too eager.
- Emily steps on dog poop coming out of her posh apartment. This
stereotype is old and it would not be the case today, Paris (and
all of France) has come a long way in teaching people to pickup
after their dogs.
- Sylvie explains to Emily that she shouldn't be an open book.
It's better to be mysterious, sophisticated and hard to get. That
stereotype is actually true.
- Antoine Lambert the "nose" comes across as sleaze ball.
Dominant males in France can come across like that. I'm better than
you, I dress better, I talk better. The concept of dominant male in
France is nothing like what you're used to in America.
- There's a suggestion that French women sleep with their bosses
and clients and American women don't. We highly doubt that. But
French and Italian women are more likely to talk about it.
- It is common for French women who know their husbands are
cheating on them not to get a divorce. They don't see why
they should have to give up their standard of living and
comfortable life because he cheated. French people don't care as
much about politician's private life and shenanigans, but that's
changing with social media.
- Emily's steak is too rare and she tries to send it back and the
cook comes out to explain to her that she's wrong. That's actually
happened to Elyse. French people have strong opinions about what
you eat, when you eat, how you eat it, etc. That's one of the
reasons why we've kept our food traditions strong. But it's
annoying. Emily in Paris gets that one right.
- It is also very French to do what you want and go against the
grain. You can get along just fine as a woman in France without
makeup or jewelry, but you have to be ready to own it.
- When Emily takes a selfie with the bakery lady, there's a sign
that goes up for a second that says "Bonjour goes a long way", so
clearly somebody on that show knows what they're talking
about.
- French actors and actresses on the series are beautiful but not
perfect, they look like real people.
- Why is "le vagin" a masculine word? Carla Bruni texts Brigitte
Macron to tell her about this product and it take off. That's not
realistic but it was funny. And French nominal genders make no
sense.
Emily in Paris is unrealistic and entertaining at the same time.
TV being unrealistic and full of stereotypes is not new. This show
is escapist, pleasant, and the production quality is high. It will
probably introduce a whole new generation of young people to Paris
and we love that. We really hate that it'll instill the same old
stereotypes in all these new people. We'd love more subtle dialog.
@JohnAugust to the rescue?
B.J. Harrisson's version of the
Hunchback of Notre Dame
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Categories: France
How To, French
Culture,
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