Emily in Paris: Insulting Cliché or Witty Commentary?
Emily in Paris: Insulting Cliché or Witty Commentary?
Netflix recently debuted Emily in Paris, a comic drama showcasing the life of a young American woman who moves to Paris to work for a French advertising agency. She knows no French, understands few cultural customs, and bumbles her way through life and love in the most iconic of Parisian settings. While the show has been lambasted by the French as unrealistic and ripe with clichés, it nevertheless highlights particularities that any American abroad has encountered in their time in France or pursuing French studies. Come participate in a roundtable discussion about the American fascination with Paris and hear what members of our French faculty and TA’s have to say about common (mis)representations of the French.
But more than just attending this discussion, we want to hear what you have to say. Did you see Emily in Paris and resonate with her experiences with the French? Have you studied abroad and encountered similar situations? What are the cultural stereotypes that were assumed of you and by you when you were in France? How much are your studies of the French language and culture affected by stereotypes of the French and where did you receive these stereotypes? What ideas about the US and American identity are in play in how we imagine France and Frenchness? Even if you have not seen the show, we invite your participation in this discussion about how and why we imagine other cultures in a certain fashion.
Bring your comments and questions to this lively roundtable where we explore what fascinates Americans about Paris and question the origins and manifestations of this attraction.
Haven't seen the show but interested in participating in the discussion? Read the links below for an idea of the issues and ideas presented.
"They should have left some trashcans- I don't recognize the city!"
"Do we have to hate Emily in Paris?"
Peruse the French viewer comments section: "Emily in Paris est une version fantasmée et proprette de Paris selon les américains pour les américains."
Why we can't get Paris right in film and TV
What is real in Emily and Paris and what's not
"Emily in Paris is Not a Good Show: Here's Why Everybody is Watching it Anyway"