Paris: "A City of Ideas"
Paris is a city built on ideas. These ideas coalesce into narratives, myths and stories that form a neural network of urban life. "A City of Ideas" explores these Ideas toward an understanding of how Paris developed as a modern city. This podcast series was created and narrated by Roger Mummert (rogermum@aol.com). For more information; www.theparisproject.net
Episodes
21 episodes
Paris Goods: Luxury Retailing and the Emergence of the Grands Magasins
Please join us in a one-hour Zoom presentation: “Paris Goods: Luxury Retailing and the Emergence of les Grands Magasins”with Roger Mummert and the Alliance FrançaiseApril 9 at 4pm EDTRegister:
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2:11
D-Day and the Soul of France: What Happened Here
D-Day was a colossal event in human history. On June 6, 1944, Allied forces landed on the beaches of Normandy and began to turn the tide against Nazi aggression and tyranny. Understanding this epic event requires that we revisit the narratives ...
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5:55
Intro: Quelle Bourgeois!
"Bourgeois” by definition means middle class. And while most French citizens are middle class, you would be hard-pressed to find anyone who wants to be called bourgeois. “Quelle horreur!” Indeed, in France, “bourgeois” has...
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3:13
"An Afternoon in Paris"
Walter Benjamin (1892-1940) was a native of Berlin, but he had deep roots in Paris. In his essay, "A Berlin Chronicle" from Reflections, he reminisces about the role played by people in his life, from childhood on. Here, while seated in the Caf...
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1:02
Mark Twain Takes a Shave in Paris
We venerate Mark Twain as a foundational American novelist, but for much of his career he paid his bills by traveling the world, writing of his adventures and recounting them from the stage. In fact, Twain spent 12 years abroad--including nearl...
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6:50
Reimagining a Green Notre Dame
The area surrounding Notre Dame Cathedral is being reimagined, as part of the vast greening of Paris. In a few years, the 12 million people who visit the cathedral annually will encounter a surrounding space that is far greener, cooler and more...
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5:06
Les Enfants de la Bohème: The Many Isms of Bohemianism
Bohemianism is a grandmere to many "isms" inspired by the original Bohemians of Paris . The list of “Bohemainism-isms” is long, but here are a choice few.This is Part V of "Bohemianism," a podcast from theparisproject.net...
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10:11
Marking Bohemia: Henri Murger's "Scenes de la Vie de Bohème"
In 1851, Henri Murger published "Scenes de la Vie de Bohème," portraying the Bohemian life of four artists in the Quartier Latin. Some say the book defined the colorful ways of Bohemianism; others say is merely "marked" or even mocked what was ...
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8:10
The Most Bohemian Bohemian
"The Most Bohemian Bohemian" is Part 3 of "Bohemianism," a podcast series from theparisproject.net. A countdown from 10 to 1 of the most colorful and influential Bohemians from la Bohème Galante, the first generations of Bohemians in Pari...
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13:14
Le Petite Cénacle: The First Generation of Bohemians
While the idea of Bohemianism may seem eternal, the founding of Bohemianism in Paris can be traced to 1830 when a small group of young writers and artists formed a circle they called le Petit Cénacle. They believed that life should be lived for...
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13:50
Walking a Lobster: Birth of La Bohème
bohemianismLiving a life of l’art pour l’art, flaunting conventions, embracing poverty and rejecting bourgeois values and comforts.Part 1Walking a Lobster: Birth of la Bohème In the 1830s, t...
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7:46
Greening Paris on Dead Trees (Paper)
Many of the records of the massive renovation of Paris (1853-1870) were lost in the 1871 fire that destroyed l'Hotel de Ville. Fortunately, Georges-Eugene Haussmann and several other key people on his renovation team left behind their mem...
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6:59
Greening Paris: A Brief History
Today's greening plan is not the first effort to make Paris a green city. Here are notable greening moments from Catherine de Medici to Georges-Eugene Haussmann.
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5:47
Is Paris Greenwashing its History?
Paris is in the midst of a massive transformation to become one of the greenest cities in Europe. The city sees this greening plan as part of a historic continuum, but critics say this is greenwashing. The Paris greening plan is ambitious...
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5:32
De-Greening the Champ-de-Mars
The Champ-de-Mars by the Eiffel Tower, which was created for military drills, is today a battleground for city planners vs. tree advocates. In a city that, for centuries, was built with boulevards and vistas that project la gloire de F...
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3:58
Pee Town: Paris Puts its Urine to Work
As the city of Paris evolved into modernity, the removal of human waste was key to that transition. Today, repurposing waste products plays a significant role in realizing a greener Paris. And urine is key to it. Podcast by Roger...
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8:31
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La Ville Verte: The Greening of Paris (intro)
Paris is undergoing what may be the most comprehensive transformation since the Haussmann renovation in the 19th century. This time, 2 million Parisians, and not just an emperor and his agent, have a hand in determining how life in Paris can be...
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0:32
Laïcité Part 4: Universalism vs. Separatism Today
For four centuries, laïcité has been a guiding principle of life in Paris and throughout France. Yet is remains a hot-button issue today, as France struggles to define a national character while fulfilling the aspirations of the Republic. Does ...
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Season 1
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Episode 4
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8:25
Laïcité Part 3: Public Education Becomes a Battleground
In the 19th century, public education in France was made mandatory and secular. The Catholic Church, which previously had controlled and administered education, viewed this as a hostile act of anti-clericism. They faced off against ...
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Season 1
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Episode 3
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2:43
Laïcité Part 2: From the Edict of Nantes to the French Revolution
Laïcité has roots in France going back to the Edict of Nantes in 1598, which granted freedom of religion (or at least tolerance) to French Protestants. And since that time, this French concept of secularism has been hotly debated. ...
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Season 1
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Episode 2
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3:16
