Week 3 - Linda Nguyen

Linda Nguyen

Professor Valverde

ASA 189f

21 January 2017

A country recreates, rebrand, and made itself stronger by three important and necessary factor: the government, the industry, and the people. In the 19th century, France was known for their fashion, food, elegance, and romance, but that was not always the case. Their country is of luxury and fashion because it was created by the government, pushed by industry, and people who brought it. France remaking itself is a way to progress—a vision of what the people, the government, and the industry wanted. King Louis XIV did exactly that. In the 16th century, the French were not thought of elegant or sophisticated European nation (Joan 3). They were limited in people, of food, and manner (Joan 4). In the 18th century, France was declared stylish, with great food, cultured, and luxury (Joan 3). The French understand the importance of marking and when fashion became French, the fashion industry began, along with the concept of fashion season that is essential to that industry’s fashioning (Joan 4).

King Louis XIV had a clear vision of what he wanted to convey to anyone who thought of Paris or France as graceful and elegance (Joan 6). He made it happen by thinking of everything and he succeeded in achieving his goals. He knew exactly what the people wanted—bright lights, diamonds, nature, aesthetic perfection, instant gratification (Joan 6). King Louis XIC wanted to make France different and unique from all its European rivals and so got the help of his minister of finance, Jean-Baptiste Colbert (Joan 7). The partnership between the monarch and businessman was the force for the invention of France’s national image where they invented arts, merchandising, fashion, and luxury (Joan 7).

In connection to the reading to current events outside class would be the Philippines branding and marketing mermaid swimming. The Philippine is able to paint a national aesthetic because of their land is rich and of beauty. They brand mermaiding to attract tourist and generating more money. Mermaiding caters to all people regardless of age, gender, and race. Mermaiding also gives accessibility to everyone to learn how to swim as well.

Question: What might happen if King Louis XIV did not enhance France as the ideal culture today as a refined and elegant? What the country (France) instead would change drastically to?

Sources:
Image: http://www.dw.com/en/louis-xiv-what-frances-sun-king-did-for-art/a-
     18688154

Joan N. The Essence of Style: How the French Invented High Fashion, Fine Food, 

     Chic Cafes, Style, Sophistication, and Glamour. New York: Free, 2005. Web. 20 

     January 2017.
"PMSA - Be a Mermaid." PMSA. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Jan. 2017.