Friday night the bridges, cathedrals, and institutions of Paris, along with the Eiffel Tour, stood as magnificent backdrops to the 2024 Olympic Games. The Opening Ceremonies were unique and special as athletes rode the waves of the Seine through one of the world’s great and beautiful cities. They also offered a path forward for those who wish to respect their history while adapting to modern societal realities.
Canadian media commentators seemed rather taken aback by the spectacle, despite the restrained nature of the French patriotism. The efforts of CBC and TSN personalities to shoehorn in Canadian social justice warrior concerns at every opportunity availed them largely fell flat due to commentary which was unprepared and superficial. Most of the commentators, such as Andi Petrillo and Perdita Felicien, did their best to insult the intelligence of viewers while offering no tangible insight, perhaps other than teaching my four year-old daughter the expression “they got shafted.
” Thanks, guys. Their seeming confusion as to whether a portion of the telecast ceremony was in the Louvre was only one of a multitude of imbecilic utterances which marred an otherwise enjoyable experience. Scott Russel and Andrianne Arsenault were more civilized and knowledgeable, yet noted how the French were unapologetically patriotic when it came to their country, as performances referencing the works of Victor Hugo and the Moulin Rouge made their appearance early on.
Their surprise is itself surprising. For, had the French truly been intent on rubbing the world’s nose in their culture and cultural influence, they would have done so. We would have been treated to a forty-foot Napoleon astride a horse, chasing Frederick William III down the Seine while Vincent van Gogh coloured the water, and Marie Curie X-rayed his bones, rather than a fashion show of unclear distinction lighting the way for a rather small Sequana , goddess of the river Seine.
This was decidedly not a ceremony planned to celebrate only that which you might have read in French history textbooks or a novel by Hugo. No, this was France at its most progressive and inclusive. That is to say: modern French society.
Job well done. And yet, in that inclusive spirit, France gave a lesson to the world on how to blend history rather than ignore it. During the ceremony, les Misérables melded into Marie Antoinette without a head singing a rock song.
Carmen by Bizet folded seamlessly into Guy de Montpassant’s Bel Ami and with it the imposing Académie Française which served as a magnificent background for the French Republican Guard to meet with Aya Nakamura and perform a song by musical legend Charles Aznavour. Past and present united in song and deed. Later, the Marseillaise was sung from the rooftop of the Grand Palais before a last supper rendition only France could pull off – performed by multiple drag queens – which sent the internet ablaze in controversy.
And yet. Whatever people may have disagreed with or have hoped for in the Opening Ceremonies, they offer a valuable lesson: culture still matters. Culture still matters a lot.
Those who deride the modern takes on history or the drag queens populating a live enactment of Da Vinci’s The Last Supper, or the rather odd blue people in fruit plates , miss a central point: running through the entire ceremony were identifiable and rock solid cultural references for the French and those familiar with their country. Towards the end, the French Team in stylish Berluti dress finally made their way past President Macron. A Montgolfier (a hot air ballon and French invention) was lit for the Olympic Torch and, as a finale, Edith Piaf’s l ’ Hymne à l’amour, was stirringly sung by Céline Dion.
The message was sent. France is modern. France is multicultural and open to all lifestyles.
And, most importantly, France is French. While I don’t doubt that many French citizens outside of Paris view this opening ceremony as less traditionally French than they may have liked it, they recognize the changing nature of their country and ultimately support change if done right. French politics currently roils under the pressure from extreme left and right parties which seek to drag France to their side of the aisle.
Friday’s performance, modern, and, at times odd, is a reminder that strong counties can modernize and adapt while still respecting and honouring the culture and history which brought them the stature and position which they enjoy. France did this successfully Friday night. Finally, for any anglophiles out there steaming that the French are currently top dog in the media and cultural world, there is solace to be taken.
When tasked with the responsibility of presenting the world with a song calling for peace and unity, the French knew where their best option lay: Imagine by John Lennon, born in the UK. Waterloo and Trafalgar still live rent free in French heads. National Post Adam Pankratz is a lecturer at the University of British Columbia’s Sauder School of Business.
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