Cultural dispute rages intensely over tradition, and, as of present, the conservative faction appears triumphant.
In the heart of France, a once unifying force has become a source of division and inflammation – the country's cultural heritage. This divisive issue is currently at the forefront of a heated debate, with the right and the left orchestrating opposing narratives of France's history and culture.
The roots of this cultural clash can be traced back to the 1980s, particularly during the Jack Lang years. Jack Lang, a former socialist Minister of Culture, initially championed living artists over historical monuments. However, his initiatives, such as the creation of Heritage Days in 1984, gained widespread consensus over the next three decades.
Fast forward to the dawn of the 2020s, and the consensus around cultural heritage began to fracture. The right, and particularly the far right, broke the consensus, leading to a significant shift in the interpretation and presentation of France's cultural heritage.
Laurent Wauquiez, President of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region (The Republicans), is one of the leading figures advocating for a spectacle about Gaulish civilization. On the other side, the National Rally (RN) is planning to triple funding for heritage as a symbol of their "moral renewal."
The battle over cultural heritage is not just about preserving the past. It is a battle for hearts, minds, and votes. The right is turning to history, "great men," national relics, and local traditions to impose their moral authority and win over the country. They argue that art, theater, cinema, and local traditions have become too left-leaning and are losing their way.
Examples of such projects include champagne in Reims, the dukes of Burgundy in Beaune, Surcouf in Saint-Malo, and Verne and Joan of Arc elsewhere. There is a surge in immersive sites and spectacles about French history and "illustrious" figures.
However, when it comes to recent projects by right-wing parties focused on the financing and presentation of national heritage and heroes in immersive formats, the sources do not provide specific examples. The discussions revolve more around general cultural heritage topics and exhibitions rather than political projects with immersive presentations of France’s national heritage or heroes.
This cultural war is far from over. Each side denigrates the other's interpretation of France's cultural heritage, further fuelling the divide. As the Heritage Days event takes place this weekend across France, one can only wonder how this battle will continue to unfold in the future.
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