Date post: | 16-Dec-2015 |
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French Culture
• 5,000 varieties of wine – variety of French ideosynchrasies
• Five characteristics:– Pureness– Classification– Composition– Suitability– Maturation
• Pureness • It is a VERY complicated process
to make wine, and many variables will affect the outcome (French are very unpredictable, too). You never know what you’re going to get.
• Aggregation of peoples struggling to forge a unified identity
• Belief in cultural superiority
• Classification • Overall 4
classifications of wine, and also four classes of people: – Haute bourgeoise –
aristocrats– Petite bourgeoisie –
white collar workers– Moyennes – middle
class– Populaires -
workers• People know their
place, but do not feel inferior to others
• Outsiders are countenanced but not readily embraced.
• Rules, regulations – there is a certain, proper way to do something (same with wine making).
• Politeness, attention to detail.• Little fluidity crossing class
lines. • Centralized social structure,
including government – tight control of institutions – high level of centralization
• Low risk takers. Want to know you intimately.
• Highly individualistic; very feminine (quality and pace of life are important – “All good wine in its own time.”)
• Innate restlessness to explore every nook and cranny of an issue in conversation.
• They can be argumentative, quick to criticize.• Family is very important, as are close friends. • Long, deep conversations with close relations • Little contact / conversation with others.• Children must be brought up properly. To learn respect. They must
be civilized by parents. • Women are seen as equal but different than men. Different roles.
CompositionAbrupt, spontaneous, relationship-oriented.Legally sanctioned work week of 35 hours.Accept high degree of power distance. Dislike uncertainty
• Suitability• Rules for everything• Complicated but free government and politics• Immigration
• The Maturation Process• Controlled education; maturity must be attained for the child to
progress through grades. Skills must be demonstrated. • More than anything, social status determines one’s future.• French are critical of the way Americans make and discard friends.