Chapter 3: Reversing the Gaze: France through American Eyes

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America Through Foreign Eyes

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Rice University

America Through Foreign Eyes

103 個評分

The United States has always been a source of fascination — both attraction and repulsion — for the people of France, Mexico, China, and African countries such as Nigeria, Ghana, and Sudan. "America Through Foreign Eyes" is a rich, interdisciplinary, international course that features Rice University faculty from a variety of disciplines and area studies. Focused on perceptions of America abroad, the course is a cross between World Cultures and American Studies. The course features four modules, each covering the perceptions and interactions of particular regions with America, Americans and Americanization.

從本節課中

Reversing the Gaze

This course has explored how the United States has been a source of fascination for African, Chinese, French, and Mexican people. What happens when we “reverse the gaze?” This module examines historical and contemporary perceptions of Africa, China, France, and Mexico through American eyes. Join all four instructors for informal conversations over a meal at various Houston restaurants about American perceptions of the world.

Chapter 1: Reversing the Gaze: Africa through American Eyes7:08

Chapter 2: Reversing the Gaze: China through American Eyes6:35

Interview with Mr. and Mrs. Fung6:10

Chapter 3: Reversing the Gaze: France through American Eyes4:18

Chapter 4: Reversing the Gaze: Mexico through American Eyes5:24

Rice Students Discuss America Through Foreign Eyes27:45

與講師見面

Dr. Anne S. Chao
Lecturer
Rice University
Dr. Julie Fette
Associate Professor
Rice University
Dr. Jeffrey Fleisher
Associate Professor
Rice University
Dr. Moramay López-Alonso
Associate Professor
Rice University

So we're here today to reverse the gaze, and

think about what Americans think about France and French people.

And the thing is, is that Americans have had very little contact with

actual French people because the French,

historically, have not immigrated to the United States, like other Europeans have.

So just the Irish and the Italians.

So what we know about France generally comes from media portrayals,

pop culture and restaurants.

So here we are in Houston at the restaurant Max & Julie,

owned by a French couple, named after their two children.

>> And the rest of the world knows, recognizes that

France is the quintessential example of refinement, high culture, good taste and

I would think that Americans are not the exception on this, would they?

>> Right so it's a reputation that France holds around the world,

and it's definitely a positive stereotype that Americans hold about French.

And there's a reverse side to that as well because with all of this high culture,

high fashion, there's admiration indeed.

But there's also envy and

a good dose of intimidation that Americans feel about the French for that reason.

>> But there's also, I would imagine,

a lot of diversity about the way Americans think about France, right?

Americans are complicated and

they must have complicated ideas about the French as well.

>> Of course. So,

if you just look at the political spectrum, so

we have people who tend to be on the right in America, have particular opinions

about France that differ very strongly from the left in America.

So for example, the right in America,

if they're holding their negative stereotypes about France, they tend to

accuse France of having a centralized state or of being protectionist.

Or of having too great of a welfare state.

And on the other hand, on the left side of America, one of the accusations that come

from the left is that France is not very tolerant of it's minorities, so

you can see that that would come more from a leftist perspective in America.

>> So Julie, I think one of the persistent myths that we encounter when we're abroad,

especially in America looking at France,

is this since that the French possess a certain cultural chauvinism.

That they're very arrogant about their culture.

Maybe you can explain why this is, and how we can dispel it?

>> So this is a very common, American, mostly negative,

stereotype about the French, indeed.

Chauvinism, nationalistic,

overly patriotic, >> We must acknowledge, in fact,

that the French think the exact same thing about Americans.

But why do Americans hold that view about France?

I talk about it in my chapter five about globalization and

the cultural exception in France, in the French module.

And what Americans really need to realize is, and they don't unless they've traveled

abroad, is how dominant American culture is abroad, right?

The massive amount of American films and television series, and

music on the radio, how dominant it is in France.

And I think if they realize that they would have a good explanation for

the French reaction, that wishes to protect its culture and

its national heritage too.

>> Because they have their own film genres,

I mean they have all of what Americans have, but in a French version.

>> Of course. So

French cinema is also very well reputed in America and even in Hollywood.

So, what are some of the ways you think we could kind of work against some of these

negative views that both the French and the Americans have of each other?

>> So, of course, we need to remember that it's complex, right?

That France is a highly complex society, as is America, and so when these

two cultures encounter each other they need to take into account that complexity.

And I guess my personal wish is that Americans would stop denying

that France matters right.

France is very significant to Americans.

Americans care about France and

they care about what the French think about them right.

So if France is so insignificant why do we always end up talking about them?

>> Right, why do we care so much.

>> Yeah, so, on that note, bon appetite.

>> Yes, let's eat.

>> Thank you.

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