module 1: intercultural réf.: ias/2006/m1/1 french society through three models

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MODULE 1: INTERCULTURAL

FRENCH SOCIETY THROUGH THREE MODELS

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PRESENTATION OF THE THREE MODELS

TRADITIONAL SOCIETY : From mankind origins to the discovery of America

MODERN SOCIETY : From the 16th century to the end of the 19th century

POST-MODERN SOCIETY : From the 20th to nowadays

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THE TRADITIONAL SOCIETYTHE TRADITIONAL SOCIETY

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TRADITIONAL SOCIETY

Rites and Sacred almighty Faith and Reason merged into one Strength of the traditions Strength of the community - The individual does not exist The religious power is almighty Science and magic merged into one People equality is not questioned

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The dawn of civilization

The traces of the first civilizations appeared as early as 28,000 BC

Animated, realistic paintings of animals have been found in more than a hundred caves in France, dating from about 28,000 to 10,000 B.C.

- Cave art is an expression of significant human experience :

The representation of complete dependence on food.

- It is set on a magico-religious basis

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The dawn of civilization

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THE DRUIDS Rites and sacred almighty

Science and magic are one

The Druids were the priests of religion in Gaul

Functions : priest, magistrate, scholar, physician.

Fire was regarded as a symbol of the divinity.

Druids also worshipped numerous inferior gods.

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THE DRUIDS

No images to represent the object of their worship, nor temples or buildings of any kind for the performance of their sacred rites.

A circle of stones (each stone generally of vast size) constituted their sacred place.

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THE ROMANS Religious power is almighty

The Roman Empire was christianised in the 4th century and extended christianisation to western Europe

The Romans were the first to initiate Faith in a unique god in a world largely influenced by paganism

Church powers grew so strong that it outlasted the Empire in the west.

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TRIBAL ORGANISATIONStrength of the community

In the Antiquity, the Gaulish society was organised in tribes.

Each individual household was dominated by the father who held authority over all the members.

Households were grouped into a family clan-like organization.

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TRIBAL ORGANISATION

A number of clans formed a tribe which was sometimes overseen by a "king" who was really a tribal chieftain.

The "king" was usually chosen from one family that was most closely identified with the ethnic, cultural and historical traditions of the tribe - that is, from a "royal family."

Some tribes had several kings, one to preside over meetings, one for religious ceremonies and one for military command.

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THE FEUDAL SYSTEMIndividuals and equal rights denied

FEUDALISM = A CASTE SYSTEM

The ancient societies :

built cities, invented forms of writing, learned to make pottery and use metals, domesticated animals, created fairly complex social structures with class systems.

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THE FEUDAL SYSTEM

Feudalism is a social class system with different rights and duties.

In both the hierarchical and communal order of the Middle Ages, everyone had a place and knew it. One’s identity was linked to kinship, class, and faith

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RELIGION ALMIGHTY

Most people in medieval France were Catholics

- baptism at birth

- church rituals

- penance for sins

- Mass

- pilgrimages to holy sites containing relics of saints

All who didn’t conform to the catholic church were condemned as false by the church and considered a danger to Christendom.

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THE CATHEDRALS Strength of the community and faith

Mankind first used indestructible materials to erect large structures not to live in but to worship their gods.

Architecture originated in the religious impulse and thus was originally symbolic.

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DIVINE KINGSHIP

Kings were considered as descendants of god and were sacred in church

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JOAN OF ARC AS AN EXEMPLE OF THE ABSOLUTE FAITH

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MUSICMusic was an integral part of emotional expression in medieval life.

- melodies of monophonic Gregorian chant,

-- instrumental dance pieces,

-- troubadour ballads

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THE MODERN SOCIETYTHE MODERN SOCIETY

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The European society started to change when Christopher COLOMB discovered America in 1492.

France entered in a new model of society

Ruptures with the traditional society

The Modern Society

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Reason denies Faith

Rites and Sacred refused

Scientific power/Science reject Magic Equality of people

Revelation of the concept of person

Acceleration of changes

Modern Society

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Modern Society Writers, philosophers and scientists refer to their activities as the "Enlightenment."

It means that they are breaking from the past and replacing the obscurity, darkness (Dark ages), and ignorance of European thought with the "light" of truth.

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The modern society advocates rationality.

Rationalism becomes an important philosophical doctrine:Truth through reason and factual analysis opposed to faith , dogma or religious teaching. The main goal is to lead the world toward progress and out of a long period of doubtful tradition, full of irrationality, superstition, and tyranny

Rite and sacred refused

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Rite and sacred refused Churches were holy places in the traditional society. Their destruction during the French revolution is a symbol of the abolition of the Absolute Power and the denying of religion.

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Reason denies faith• Philosophers as Descartes and Voltaire start

questioning: “ What do I know?“ Doubts about God-given values

Inquisitors, popes, and kings alike had no rights to enforce adherence to particular religious or philosophical beliefs.

Reason becomes the key to truth

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Reason denies faith

Human beings are naturally good and can be educated to be better : a good illustration of this fact is the creation of “l’Encyclopédie”

Vigorous attack against the Catholic church. Progress is possible, even inevitable, if people could be set free. Society's goals should focus on improvements in material and social life.

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Scientific powerSciences reject magic

Respect for rational philosophy is largely derived from the successes and popularity of science.

The surprising discoveries of astronomers produced a new view of the individual's place in the universe. Material reality is accepted as the only reality.

By emancipating science from theological traditions, the modern society makes possible the autonomous evolution of modern culture

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• Natural rights theory are the foundation of the ethical and social gospel : Human rights chart

• Introduction of natural rights into practical politics which revealed its explosive energy in the French Revolution as well as leading to the rise of capitalism and the birth of socialism.

Equality of people

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Revelation of the concept of person• The institutions don’t come from a natural order but may be chosen by the individual assent.

• Each person claims the right to become an actor of HistoryThe principal targets are religion and the domination of society by a hereditary aristocracy.

• The objective is to deliver individuals from restraints so that they could act freely in accordance with their natures.

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Begining of women’s emancipation during the French Revolution

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The traditional family structure have suffered from the new industrial society.

The natural environment has also suffered from the effects of the Industrial Revolution.

Acceleration of changes

The slow evolution of human development for centuries is now facing a remarkable acceleration during the industrial revolution ( mechanization and urbanization)

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Acceleration of the changes

• Perhaps the greatest benefits of Modern Society are increased material well-being and improved healthcare for many people in France.

• Modern industrial life also provides a constantly changing flood of new goods and services, giving consumers more choices.

• With both its negative aspects and its benefits, the Industrial Revolution and the modern society has been one of the most

influential and far-reaching movements in human history.

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THE POST-MODERN SOCIETYTHE POST-MODERN SOCIETY

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One "project" of modernity was the pursuit of progress characterized by a constant change and achieved through rationality.

Postmodernity represents the culmination of this process.

Postmodernity occurs in the late 20th century and early 21st century life.

The features of this period are globalization, consumerism, the fragmentation of authority, and the merchandization of knowledge.

Post-Modern Society

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Post-Modern Society

Acceleration of progress Rites and sacred: a new dimension Return to origins Individuals must live among the group Science shows limits Reason is hard to reach Equality has a different meaning

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Acceleration of progressPostmodernity focuses on improving the conditions of life including:

- omnipresence of mass media and mass production, - rise of global economic arrangements,- shift from manufacturing to service economies.- more rapid transportation and wider communication

All these defining consumerism or capitalism

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Rites and sacred:A new dimension

After a deep religiosity in the traditional society and a complete denying in the modern society, post-modern society proposes a new response to spiritual concerns.

Traditional religions as Catholicism don’t attract so many people.Noneless, people turn to different religious experience such as Buddhism or philosophical movements.

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Most of celebrations and public holidays are originally catholic despite of the separation of the Church and the State (Secularism 1905).

Today, people are less religious and often ignore the origin of traditions.

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The 12th night cake « galette des rois » ( The Three Wise men)


Christmas:25th of December

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Easter


Carnival:40 days before Easter

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Music celebration: 21st June

Mother’s Day: last Sunday in May


Today people are seeking for new traditions

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Today people are celebrating traditions from the past:

Return to Origins

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Return to Origins

Medieval festivals

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Equality has a different meaning

Post modernity is marked by increasing focus on civil rights and equal opportunity, as seen by such movements as feminism and multi-culturalism, as well as the backlash against these movements.

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Backlash to globalization and multi-culturalism. Inter-culturalism is interpretated in different ways


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Science shows limits

The limits of science are mainly notable in the environmentalist movements:- Warming up of atmosphere- Hole in the ozone layer- Contamination of waters…

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Group work

Regarding this presentation, 3 groups are going to work on the analysis of your society today in order to compare it to French society- Group 1: traditions in your society- Group 2: modernity in your society- Group 3: post-modernity in your society

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Traditional SocietyTraditional Society Modern SocietyModern Society Post - Modern SocietyPost - Modern Society

Rites and Sacred almightyRites and Sacred almighty Reason denies Faith Acceleration of progress

Faith and Reason merged into one

Scientific power/Science reject Magic

Rites and sacred: a new dimension

Strength of the traditions Equality of people Return to origins

Strength of the community – The individual does not exist


Individuals must live among the group

The religious power is almighty

Acceleration of changes Science shows limits

Science and magic merged into one

Rites and Sacred refused Reason is hard to reach

People equality is not questioned


The Three Models of French Society

module 1: intercultural réf.: ias/2006/m1/1 french society through three models

Documents

dawn of civilization

magicoreligious basis

models traditional society

gaulish society

century postmodern society

sacred rites

druids rites

sacred almighty science