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When American Pop Culture and French Civilization Meet in the Movies: Jean Echenoz's Cherokee

October 9, 2019

The French and Francophone Studies Department is pleased to host an evening with Dr. William Cloonan, the Richard Chapple Professor of Modern Languages (Emeritus) at Florida State University.

Post World War II France witnessed an invasion of American products: clothing, appliances, movies and eventually fast foods. French intellectuals viewed this influx with varying degrees of horror; France would lose its identity, its way of life and traditions as Americans and their merchandise took the country over. Rumors abounded; some people were convinced that Coca-Cola had bought the rights to advertise its product on the outside walls of Notre Dame Cathedral. However many French born after the war understood the matter differently. For them the plethora of American products need not threaten French traditions, but could be made part of an ever expanding French culture. Jean Echenoz explores this issue in a sly and funny novel which imagines the techniques and themes of American films being absorbed and integrated into a Franco-American movie.

A reception will take place at 6:30 p.m. prior to the lecture. This event is hosted by the Department of French and Francophone Studies and co-sponsored by the Department of English and the Department of American Studies.

Further information

  • Location:
  • Time: 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm Calendar Icon
  • Cost: Free