Marie-Antoinette pager & Sans-culottes chic
May 16, 2009 2 Comments
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This advertisement provided an excellent (and amusing) platform to describe how Marie-Antoinette's poor management of time and word-choice became the stuff of legend.
This ironic review by Cintra Wilson of a NY clothing store that caters to well-heeled wannabe artist-hippies (who can afford $265 for a sweater-vest emblazoned with a marijuana leaf) from the New York Times of 5/07/09, closes with a hilarious reference to the sans-culottes's threat to the bourgeoisie (long considered the prime motor of the French Revolution). Many thanks to Cintra Wilson for deflating the pretensions of those who think that dressing like a 1960s peacenik equals authentic political activism.
- On integrating these sources in a class, see “Teach This!”
Great job, Professor Douthwaite! You are a true artist in the French revolution subject. I enjoyed the Marie Antoinette subject the most.
Paix à Marie-Antoinette!
The whole ‘let them eat cake’ or ‘qu’ils mangent de la brioche’ story is a fabrication and has been attributed to various other unpopular members of European royal families. An instance is to be found in Rousseau’s ‘Confessions’… and he died in 1778, years before the rumours about Marie-Antoinette spread. It is a fascinating case of mud sticking!