Posted on 10/21/2005 11:49:20 AM PDT by pissant
France claimed a significant victory last night in its relentless battle against the march of American culture with the adoption of internationally-backed protections.
Supported notably by Canada, France was the driving force behind a "cultural diversity" convention agreed by 148 of the 154 countries which took part in the vote at the Paris general conference of the United Nations arts and culture agency, Unesco.
America was virtually isolated, with Israel the only other country to vote against the treaty and four nations abstaining.
It failed to force through a series of amendments to weaken the text, which reaffirms the rights of countries to "protect and promote the diversity of cultural expressions".
For the French establishment, indignant at failures to resist invasion of "Anglo-Saxon" - which usually means English speaking - entertainment, the treaty amounts to a "manifesto for an alternative globalisation".
The Left-of-centre French daily Le Monde gloated that the "incredible mobilisation" by Unesco members had for once left the US alone.
France devotes huge resources to protecting francophone arts, spending many millions of pounds each year to prop up French cinema, theatre and opera.
But that is not enough to satisfy the influential cultural lobby and a string of single-interest trade groups.
Commentators routinely deplore the perceived simplistic morality and emotional shallowness of American cinema, as well as the cheap thrills of Euro Disney, despite their popularity.
This week, a group representing record shops launched a campaign against a France Telecom plan to make tracks from Madonna's new album available to mobile phones.
The courts even ruled that the First World War film, A Very Long Engagement, starring Audrey Tautou, was not French enough to qualify for state subsidies.
Rival French film makers objected because most of the production budget was met by Warner Bros through its French subsidiary. Yet the film was made in France and in French, with a French cast and production team, providing work for 2,200 people.
Britain supports the convention but not without differences of interpretation that could trigger future rows.
Renaud Donnedieu de Vabres, the French culture minister, hailed the "recognition that culture is not merchandise like any other".
Thank Goodness that non conservative GWB somehow was talked out of going along with this.
Huh? Is this a joke? Satire?
"rights of countries to "protect and promote the diversity of cultural expressions"
LOL - how ironic. "Protecting diversity" by keeping some OUT. !$@#!%#$@%#%!$! them all!
Yeah, French wine is so popular talk is it's being considered as fuel for American cars.
lemme see, cultural victory?
people all over the world wear what french pants more than they wear blue jeans?
people all over the world listen to what french music more than rock n roll?
people all over the world drink what french beverage more than they do coca cola?
people all over the world drive what french car more than they do a Ford or Chevy?
how many people all over the world speak french versus english?
what cultural victory?
only in their deranged minds. (too much cheese - clogs the arteries)
An ironic choice of verbage considering that the purpose is to stamp out American culture.
The French don't seem to understand that this is a one-sided war. They are the only ones fighting it. We don't care if they speak French, or if the Canadians speak French. We don't care if they eat cheese instead of cheesebugers. We don't care if they don't go to American movies. They can do what they want, and we'll do what we want.
And notice there's no concern about what the French people want, is there?
The infantile Left (pardon the reundancy, PA) strikes again.
Snotty is not a culture. And that is all they have. Oh, and croissants. Woo hoo for them!!!!!!
I see france is trying to pretend that it is relevent in the world.
Here's one American red cent, Mister LePew...stick it in your francophone and call someone else next time your Balzac's in the fire.
we need an ugly picture of a Citreon...???? great french engineering
I concur with that sentiment....and the swear words. ;o)
Translation: "Our arts are superior to yours, you silly English-speaking person, even if they are so commerically unpopular that no one wants to pay the price of admission, and we have get our government pay us to make it! Your father was a hampster, and your mother smelled of elderberries!"
France decided to celbrate diversity by having roughly 50% of the people employed and the other 50 leeching off them.
If you don't like something, don't patronize them. Nobody is forcing you at gunpoint to buy American cultural products!
I agree with France on this one...Hollywood sucks.
LOL
Sorry, but no culture that values bathing only once per week will ever be superior to mine.
France does have good wine. Too bad the yanks and the Aussies are puttin them out of business.
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