La vie en rose, ou pas
A French plane squad flying above the Stade de France (Photo: Gaël Chardon, CC BY-SA 2.0 DEED, via Wikimedia Commons)
At 8pm, on Friday the 8th of September, the Rugby World Cup begins. France has the opportunity to unveil to the world what being French means. And the choice seems to be a France of the last century: a France of bérets, a France of cheese, a France of wine, or in other words a France rance, as many have openly criticized.
This controversy is not a one-off event with regards to the portrayal of French culture, nor is it a one-off regarding the glossy effect of opening ceremonies in general. Such ceremonies are often emblematic of greater cultural and societal tensions, whether they be in Qatar, regarding human and labour rights, or in France, in which the “classic” rose-coloured French dream confronts a much greyer reality.
Opening ceremonies are extremely important in demonstrating to the rest of the world the character and the tone of a nation. They transcend the strict organisation of the event and are an opportunity to shape how watchers will perceive the host nation. Because of this, traditional themes that showcase the history and the eventual unity of a nation are privileged to showcase the greatness of a culture and a people.
One can look at the opening ceremony of the Football World Cup in Doha in 2022 and how Qatari culture stood proud. The mascot La’eeb was inspired by the ghutra, a traditional headdress worn by Arab men. The stadium itself was inspired by the structure of a Bedouin tent. There was also a performance of al-Ardha, a traditional sword dance. The ceremony was grandiose and beautiful.
But all of this was happening in a greater context of controversy regarding the organisation and the creation of the ceremony and World Cup in general. The news of migrant workers death during construction brought up the conditions in which the Qatar World Cup was being made a reality.
The Guardian reported that “37 deaths among workers [were] directly linked to [the] construction of World Cup stadiums”.
Yet, coverage of the opening ceremony as well as the experience of fans on the ground did not dwell much on the fact. The calls for inclusivity and acceptance embodied in the Qatar opening ceremony did not seem to extend to the lives of the immigrant labour force. The opening ceremony was a gloss that covered darker and greyer truths underneath.
In France, there was a harsh rejection to the opening ceremony of the 2023 Rugby World Cup. It ignited a controversy about how France chooses to represent its history and values.
The ceremony was conceptualized by Jean Dujardin, an emblematic French actor who has played in the culture classic OSS 117, in which he portrayed a secret agent working for the French intelligence agency in the 1950s. His inspiration seems to have stemmed from this era as well: an old-fashioned France that continues to captivate both locals and tourists, whether this be its picturesque countryside, the aroma of baguettes, and the echoes of classical French music.
However, the 2023 Rugby World Cup opening ceremony's focus on this nostalgia led many to question whether it went too far in idealizing an era that had its fair share of problems riddled by colonialism and misogyny. France missed an opportunity to show its growth and development as a nation.
In attempting to define French culture through its past traditions, many French felt excluded from the narrative. What does it mean to be French in the 21st century, and how does a nation represent its heritage without alienating some of its own citizens?
In an increasingly globalized world, where multiculturalism and diversity are celebrated, the challenge for any nation is to reconcile its historical identity with the aspirations of its modern society. France is no exception, and the opening ceremony controversy illustrated the inherent tensions in defining Frenchness.
Nostalgia of old-fashioned France should not come at the cost of addressing the darker aspects of history or disregarding the values of its current citizens. France now has an opportunity to learn from this controversy and to forge a path that celebrates both its heritage and its commitment to society.
Opening ceremonies have a particular talent in distorting realities. Whether to conceal successfully or spectacularly badly, a recurring issue stems from the attempt of defining a nation and its standing on the international stage. In trying to present an idealized vision, harsher realities are either ignored or seep through dramatically.
Instead of creating an ephemeral but perfect moment in opening ceremonies to the outside world, nations should perhaps concern themselves in improving the daily lives of the people who live there.