Sunday, October 8, 2017

Week 3 - Naomi Almanzor

Question: What specific factors can you identify that allowed France to remake itself? How could this work or not work with the nation/state/area of your interest and why?

During Louis XIV’s reign and Colbert’s time in office, the dwindling amounts of gold and silver circulating in Europe led to the basis of Colbert’s plan for France: the prioritization of French exports over imports when it came to Louis XIV’s lavish possessions, and the importance of having a large following behind the purchase of these items (DeJean, 8). France had enough financial stability and technology to produce the various commodities desired by Louis XIV. France also had the ability to educate and train workers through institutions established in France. France’s absolute monarchical government system assisted as well, as it allowed for the king to have a strong influence over the population and drive the consumption of French goods.

My group and I have not fully decided on a nation at the moment, but if I were to use the Philippines in the same time period, the Philippines was under Spanish rule, and so did not have the same autonomy that France had to authorize new industries for production. The Philippines was also more agriculturally based, and so may not have had the same resources to establish factories for production, and also did not employ mercantilism as France did with Colbert (Merchant, 55).

These factors allowed the remodeling of France’s image through its creation and establishment of cafes, boutiques, the fashion industry, specialization of interior design, and others. The combination of Louis XIV’s pure passion and dedication to the high class image, Colbert’s economic expertise, and the many industries available for production drew in the French population of all classes. This led to the fulfillment of all three aspects needed for a national aesthetic and the successful shift in France’s image. The creation of new features in guidebooks and the way in which merchants learned to persuade their customers also managed to draw in and leave a good impression on foreigners as well (DeJean, 17). Based on this time period, given that the results of this image change did lead to conflict mainly in French industries, I would say having a stronger regard for industrial workers and managers and taking into account the barriers preventing the smooth establishment of new industries would be helpful (Usher, 1934).

I found that Louis XIV, the highest seat of French government at the time, being one of the main initiators and promoters of this transformation in French culture and class could be linked to how Korea’s government was the biggest driver for the focus and strengthening of culture and culture policy in Korea.

I had been aware that France was the origin of fashion and cafés, but I had no idea that interior design, the modern shop, and the current method of shopping started there as well. I also found it particularly interesting how much of France’s success relied largely on aesthetics - how products looked, how they were advertised, and the environment around them – and I think really showed just how powerful and long-lasting the effects of aesthetics can be.


My Question: Even though the high-class image seemed to be unanimously embraced, were there areas/groups that disliked the new French aesthetic itself (as opposed to the consequences of this image in the French industries, as discussed in Colbert and Governmental Control…)? If so, how did they deal with or protest against these changes?

Sources:
DeJean Joan. 2005. The Essence of Style: How the French Invented High Fashion, Fine Food, Chic Cafes, Style, Sophistication, and Glamour. Free Press: New York.

Usher, A. P. (1934, November 15). Colbert and Governmental Control of Industry in Seventeenth Century France. The Review of Economics and Statistics, Vol. 16, No. 11, pp. 237-240.

Merchant, Pranav. "Economic effects of the Spanish conquest of the Philippines and Mercantile theory." Stanford Univ Res J 9 (2012): 53-59.

Image:

http://www.impressiveinteriordesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/French-Interior-Design-Ideas-Style-And-Decoration-12.jpg



1 comment:

  1. This book may have the information you need.
    Opposition to Louis XIV: The Political and Social Origins of French Enlightenment by Lionel Rothkrug. (page 463)

    And read more about "Mercantilism".

    "It was after Colbert’s ministry was well established that anti-mercantilist themes became a central part of religiously inspired criticism" (Rothkrug, 1965). High tariffs, especially on manufactured goods, are an almost universal feature of mercantilist policy. Other policies have included: forbidding colonies to trade with other nations, monopolizing markets with staple ports, banning the export of gold and silver, even for payments, forbidding trade to be carried in foreign ships, subsidies on exports, promoting manufacturing and industry through research or direct subsidies, limiting wages, maximizing the use of domestic resources, restricting domestic consumption through non-tariff barriers to trade (Wikipedia).

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