22 novembre 2018

Mai 1968

Speaker, Vikki Nelson, with copy of Paris Match from 1968
Our latest Cercle talk on the 14 November with Vikki Nelson was introduced by Allison through the use of a photomontage going back to the beginnings of their friendship in Paris.
Allison remarked that as Vikki had made an in-depth study of les événements de mai 68 for her university dissertation she was ideally suited to explore this very interesting period in French history and to provide some retrospective analysis in this its 50 year anniversary.
Proudly displaying a copy of Paris Match from the time, Vikki outlined her approach saying that she would provide some political and economical context of 1960s France as well as events further afield. She would then detail the various organisations and key people who took part before describing what actually happened; how protests developed and eventually ended.
To help bring the events to life  (and refresh the memories of some of us) she would display some photos and posters, read some related literature and conclude by sharing some observations on the consequences of mai 68.

In setting the context, Vikki looked back at world-wide protest movements of the time and then charted key periods in recent French history: Les Trente Glorieuses from 1945-75, La Guerre d'Algérie from 1954-62 and The Vietnam War from 1955-75.

She went on to discuss those who were involved in the May events starting with the organisation, Situationist International (Les Enragés) claimed to have written the best leaflets, texts and slogans.  Among the students and workers in the protests, one of the key figures was Daniel Cohn-Bendit, a German national who only very recently obtained French citizenship. Vikki commented that while he was confident and charismatic he had no strategy.  She posed quite a few questions when considering the March 22 Movement. Why, for example, did workers join demonstrations which were initially about students protesting the Vietnam war and educational reform? Why risk a criminal record for these causes?  Next she considered the National Students' Union and the Lecturers' Union introducing us to other key players, Jacques Sauvageot and Alain Geismear respectively. These two and DC-B were shown together in a photo taken at the time. Others involved were Georges Marchais of the Communist Party and of course Président Charles de Gaulle.

The sequence of events was deftly explained, starting with an incident on the campus of Nanterre, quickly followed by a student protest at the Sorbonne to which police were called. Many students were arrested with the help of the CRS - Compagnies Républicaines de Sécurité. There was considerable resistance, tearing up/throwing cobble stones (pavés) and putting up barricades leading to an escalating police response.  The students called for a march to take place on 10 May but this was blocked by police and that night became known as "la nuit des barricades".  Hundreds of students were arrested and many hundreds of students and police were hospitalised.  Public sympathy for the students increased and workers joined the protests - beginning the largest wildcat strike in French history.   Students saw an opportunity for major societal change but Charles de Gaulle sensing that French people were ready to return to stability announced that he would dissolve the Assemblée Nationale and call fresh elections.  Hundreds of thousands marched in support of his call.  The student demonstrations continued into June but momentum had been lost and de Gaulle won a resounding victory.  Ironically, ten months later, his bid to change political institutions further by holding a national referendum of regional reorganisation and reform of the senate failed and de Gaulle's career came to an end.

Vikki then posed a series of questions. Did the protests fail? At least initially but ultimately succeeding? Were too many organisations involved? Was there a lack of long-term strategy?
Why were the students not so concerned about the Algerian war?   Discussion flowed on these points and others raised by members of the attentive audience. Vikki and Claudine read extracts from various publications, some of which were contemporaneous and others more recent drawn from the body of work that marks the 50th anniversary.

As the talk drew to a close we were directed to some archive film about the events and were treated to a different photo-montage, this time using a series of iconic images. Some of the posters and graffiti were very striking - Si on brûlait la Sorbonne? and Nous sommes tous "Indésirables" along with many others.

This was an enjoyable and information-packed talk which while dealing with events 50 years ago holds many lessons for today.
Retrospectives are a bit like that.
More please.

Thank you Vikki - un très grand merci !




More:
There are dozens of videos relating to mai '68 on Ina - site officiel de l'Institut National de l'audiovisuel. If you are not already subscribed there are various packages available.  Why not click on the link here for more information?



01 novembre 2018

CfB in the Ulster Tatler

The latest edition of the Ulster Tatler is out now and in its Arts Diary there is a feature on our recent Seamus Heaney, word alchemist event. Thanks to Ulster Tatler for giving permission to reproduce the article here.


15 octobre 2018

Émile Durkheim. 10 octobre 2018. Review and response

James Dingley’s presentation on Émile DURKHEIM (1858 – 1917) (Cercle français de Belfast, 10th October, 2018) – A brief review, and an extension of Durkheim’s ideas to modern times.

There is a lot one could say about Durkheim, and James made a good beginning, in an accessible and enjoyable presentation. Essentially, the division of labour (now more commonly known as specialisation) was the mainspring of the industrial revolution, and Durkheim explained many of the new developments in 19th century society in terms of its effects, especially the contrast between life in the traditional rural setting, and in the rapidly growing industrial cities. I had not been aware of Durkheim’s emphasis on morality and religion as important sources of stability, particularly their encouragement of tolerance in anonymous urban centres where people from many different regions and occupations had to honour contracts and accept others’ behaviours, strange (to them) as they might be. Unexpectedly, to some, Durkheim is the person who could be credited most for "laïcité” in France. The state recognition of marriage for legal purposes, so that couples still are formally married only at the mairie, can be ascribed directly to him.

Most of what I would like to say in response concerns the division of labour and the current environmental crisis; in the interests of brevity, I have focussed on four questions: “What is the Crisis?”, “Why are our Structures Deficient?”, “What Change is required?”, and “What are the Main Challenges?”

What is the Crisis? Survival in Question
Humankind faces the real possibility of extinction, either of our species, or of life itself, through climate change, pollution, armed conflict, or all three. This would be a pity (!), as there is no significant evidence of any life anywhere else in the universe. However, the young have more to lose than we do; we have to open up a genuine path towards a sustainable soicety, with an ideology which counters the promises made by free markets to poor people. 

Why are our Structures Deficient?Specialised Technology
The specialisation of modern society is a source of many difficulties: the achievement of economies of scale by modern firms reduces the power of democracies to protect consumers and workers. The pursuit of free market ideas, combined with economies of scale, opens the environment, especially the seas, to waste from what seems like an inifinite number of different production processes. Our needs tend to be met one at a time, with a specific production process developed to meet each, so that (broadly speaking) only costs specific to that need are considered in the profitability calculation. Also, all of the professions tend to restrict their activities to their own interests, limiting the progress that can be made towards sustainability. The technology structures (universities, multinationals, governments) monopolise the available scientific talent, and manage it from separate ivory towers, at a long distance from everyday practice. 

What Change is required? From Specialised to Integrated Technology
We need rational approaches to the development of integrated technologies which will meet basic human needs, locally, within current resource constraints. Integration means identifying all the costs and outputs in societal terms, and developing ways of living and working together, on technologies specific to our local environments which will meet those needs. (This is about the largest agenda one could think of.) When we re-tool our basic systems (such as energy), local knowledge, and sharing it, will be essential, in addition to an understanding of universal technologies. 

What are the main challenges?
Sustaining human beings as the transition occurs, from one technology set (which does, after all, deliver survival, even if it is unsustainable in the long run) to a new one. Also, the new technology set has to be adopted by everyone in the society where it is to work, if sustainability is to be achieved.

Main Areas: 
Healing Nature – reducing the damage made so far
Healing Work – many people’s work does them harm
Healing Learning – Change criteria from selecting the best, and rejecting the rest, to genuinely developing provable skills. This probably means fathers or mothers teaching their own children, using information technology of many different kinds, mediated by religious or cultural institutions. 

This is likely to be rather more than might have expected from a response to a talk about a 19th century scholar. Durkheim was right, in so many ways, and his commitment to humanity is well worth replicating.

Douglas McCulloch
15th October, 2018.

14 septembre 2018

New season apéritif : Pastis


After our summer break, the Cercle got back into action with the launch of the 2018-19 programme.
Présidente Allison Neill-Rabaux began by welcoming old and new members and then whetted our appetites by providing a synopsis of forthcoming events for the new season, (the programme can be viewed on its own tab above). Allison also highlighted the special event scheduled to take place in October - an evocation of the friendship between our member, Jim Holland with Nobel laureate poet Seamus Heaney through readings of selected poems in English and in French. She reported that all places at the event had been taken but that a waiting list was in operation.
Allison, having reminded everyone that the evening also presented an opportunity to renew or take out membership, then introduced our speaker for the evening, Jonathan LYONS and his talk on L'histoire du Pastis.

Jonathan getting ready to share some pastis at Cercle talk.
Jonathan explained that his talk would be in French, while slides accompanying the presentation would be annotated in English.  He noted that the talk would be short as he wanted to leave enough time for a little dégustation of the famous apéritif.
His talk started with the origins of the drink in absinthe. A distilled concoction of herbs and spices that included wormwood. This proved so injurious to health that governments and temperance movements began to act against it. Absinthe's possibly mind-altering effects (on occasions leading to madness and death) still found favour however among the bourgeoisie and in the artistic world, earning for itself the name of la fée verte - the green fairy.  Jonathan showed us a series of images of how the product featured in several well-known works of art, L'absinthe 1876 by Degas and in L'assommoir by Émile Zola.
A less dangerous alternative had to be sought and so Jonathan introduced us to key players Henri-Louis Pernod and Paul Ricard. Pernod's solution in his factory on the Swiss border was to concentrate on aniseed flavouring.  He then detailed the marketing rivalry between the two leading brands which eventually culminated in the two joining together.  To illustrate his point, Jonathan had assembled for our inspection a range of publicity products some of which may be seen in the picture above.

But he was keen to press on to that dégustation and for our tasting he had procured another distinctive variety of pastis from the Henri Bardouin company.  To help it go down, Allison had brought some olives and other appetisers in the form of little goats cheese biscuits from Le Berry.  These were sablés au crottin de Chavignol fermier and they certainly did go well!
It was clear that Pastis had its admirers while for others the distinctive aroma was not to their liking. For this reviewer though the scent and taste of Pastis tends to conjure up warm days in the South of France with maybe a soundtrack of boules and cicadas.

What's your view?
Fan or not of Pastis we would love to read what you think so feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section below.
If you can set aside a quarter of an hour you may be interested in clicking on this link which takes you to a YouTube video on Les secrets d'un Pastis fait man.  You will have to enter your birth year to see it as that is part of the protection of minors requirements in France and as always attention à l'abus d'alcool. The video is from Pastis Henri Bardouin, makers of the product that featured in our apéritif for this season's programme.

See you next time? À bientôt !






09 avril 2018

Les Restos du cœur

Comment la "petite idée" d'un clown engagé a donné naissance à un des plus beaux actes de solidarité en France. Trente ans plus tard, les Restos du cœur continuent à apporter un soutien aux plus démunis.

Cette conférence reviendra sur la vie de Coluche (1944-86), de son enfance modeste jusqu’à la fondation des Restos du cœur, en passant par sa vie de clown, de comédien et de candidat présidentiel. Nous parlerons également de la genèse de Les Enfoirés, ce regroupement d'artistes et personnalités francophones qui se réunissent chaque année pour chanter au profit des Restos.
Allison NEILL-RABAUX

(En français et anglais).


Avis : Suite à notre conférence, le cercle compte soutenir l'action des Restaurants du Cœur en envoyant une somme d'argent équivalente à un repas quotidien pendant 1 mois.  Alors venez nombreux, on compte sur vous !



08 avril 2018

Bulletin mensuel : avril 2018

Chers Amis,
The next meeting of the Cercle Français de Belfast will be on ...
Mercredi (Wednesday) 11 avril 2018 à 19h.30 
in Dark Horse Coffee House, 

Topic: Les Restos du Cœur : la petite idée d’un clown
Speaker: Allison NEILL-RABAUX

How a clown brought together some of France’s most popular singers and celebrities to create one of the most enduring acts of solidarity. In French and English.


CHANGE OF DATE

Assemblée générale suivie par A taste of Tunisia 
Please note that this event originally scheduled for 9th May has been moved forward by one week to the 2nd May.


Bal Feirste: Bal

Bal Feirste's next Workshop/Bal will be on ...
Venue: Sunflower Club, Union St, Belfast (upstairs)
Dance workshop: 17.00-17.30
Bal: 17.30-19.00
(this is a free event, donations welcome - live music throughout)
Dance workshop - no experience or partner needed.
Bal - a time to practise your moves, not just the dances of this month, but others covered to date, guidance will be given where necessary. 

Looking forward to seeing you on Wednesday evening.
À bientôt,
Philip

29 janvier 2018

Café-causerie : Tour de France des fromages

Chers Amis,
The next meeting of the Cercle Français de Belfast will be …
on Mercredi (Wednesday) 7 février 2018  à 19h.30 
in Dark Horse Coffee House, 
30-34, Hill Street Belfast BT1 2LB

Café-causerie : Tour de France des fromages
Rosemary BLACK and Sylvain RABAUX 

An evening for French speakers of all abilities to talk about, and taste, some French cheeses.
Cette soirée vous propose de découvrir six régions françaises par leur(s) fromage(s). Après une présentation, en français en anglais, de chaque fromage, place au voyage gustatif ! Autour d’un plateau de fromages et d’un bon vin, vous aurez l’occasion de parler de ce produit incontournable du patrimoine gastronomique français.
N’hésitez pas à apporter vos livres susceptibles d’animer les conversations (livres de voyage sur la Normandie, la Franche-Comté, la Savoie, Midi-Pyrénées, le Poitou ; livres gastronomiques ; livres sur les fromages…).

Venez nombreux !

Looking forward to seeing you on Wednesday 7th February.


À bientôt, Philip

02 janvier 2018

Registration for La Fête des Rois

Chers Amis,

Registration for La Fête des Rois

This year our Fête des Rois – Bal musette will be held ...
… on Wednesday 10th January 2018
… at 19h30 in The Dark Horse Coffee House
While this event is free for members, guests will be asked to make a contribution of £5.

La Fête des Rois is one of the most popular events in our programme. Indeed in the last few years we have come very close to full capacity of The Dark Horse. So, once again this year to ensure that everyone has plenty of space for a good time attendance will be limited to a maximum of 80.

There are some changes to last year's arrangements. 

1 We are asking anyone who is coming on 10th January to register in advance by Monday 8th January 2018.

2 As last year 'tickets' will not be issued but your name will be added to a register which will be checked at the door on the evening. Thus ensuring entry to the event.

To register please send an email to cfbelfast@gmail.com by 8th January.
You will receive an email acknowledging your registration.

Once we reach the capacity of The Dark Horse registration will be closed.

Remember it’s first come first served so, to avoid disappointment, register as soon as possible. 

Looking forward to receiving your registration and to seeing you at La Fête des Rois.

Bonne Année,


Philip

PS:  I thought you might like to know that Spiral (Engrenages) was back on BBC 4 last week. You can catch up on BBC iPlayer at …