This is a 1988 kids' television tribute to Serge Gainsborough. 36 gray-peruked children in sunglasses sport stubble, cigarettes, and alcohol, while singing an amended song as they advance toward him.
I have never smoked in my life, hated the smell of it. But I have a photo of me in high school casually holding a cigarette between my fingers. I have never looked so cool since. Damn.
On our honeymoon in 1999 starting in Paris my husband and I were excited because California had recently banned smoking in bars and restaurants. We were smokers and couldn’t wait to freely enjoy our terrible habit there. What we found amusing was early morning visit to the nearest cafe not far from the university where professeurs were lined up at the bar getting their nicotine fix along with a glass of vin blanc before class.
Michael, by reading this we can tell either you are not a smoker, or new to France, or both! The story seems to speak about traditional (manufactured) cigarettes, but the French rarely smoke these. The trend in the recent decades is the hand-rolled cigarettes (cigarettes roulées). It is the entire act of lending each other filters and tobacco and the rolling paper that builds the ritual and that’s what people do when standing outside the bars. Also, part of the reason of going away from traditional cigarettes is exactly what you quote - they are associated with image of being “chic”, now mostly rejected as part of the ethos of previous generation (bourgois, patriarchal, capitalist etc). Today’s youth is overwhelmingly leftist and that’s part of the ethos and culture of smoking exclusively roll-ups (purposely cheaper)
I remember reading about the trade negotiators at the 1999 WTO convention in Seattle (the one with the huge protests) who were thrown off their game by Seattle’s relatively new indoor smoking ban. They interviewed a Japanese trade representative who said that smoking rituals—lighting the cigarette, how it’s held, the length of the drag and the exhale—had traditionally served as a way to control the rhythm of the negotiations. Without cigs, they were at a loss (and likely in nicotine withdrawal).
Honestly though, it's one thing I ambivalent about, the French just having their favorite breakfast item anytime and anyplace during the day. It's weird. You don't see me eating Lucky Charms during a working lunch.
"...considering the question of whether life is worth living. Perhaps, for Sartre, without cigarettes, it was not."
I sure do abhor the loss that inevitably comes with loving unhealthy habits, losing an artist to a "product" is itself a sad statement, but as another great philosopher noted, "Whatever gets you through the night."
The Unbearable Lightness of Being (film) came out the year I graduated college, beginning my committed, uninterrupted, unreciprocated love affair with Juliette. My wife understands. Still, my wife: not a smoker. So, our marriage endures.
"Honestly, is there anything more French than a sallow youth in a black turtleneck expelling a thin, hopeless stream of smoke at an outdoor café on a gray Parisian afternoon?"
Nope. Except you forgot his croissant and midday wine at the table. ;)
I would become a paid subscriber, Michael, but I’m just not very confident that you would use my five dollars a month to smoke cigarettes. Zut alors!
Most French thing ever:
This is a 1988 kids' television tribute to Serge Gainsborough. 36 gray-peruked children in sunglasses sport stubble, cigarettes, and alcohol, while singing an amended song as they advance toward him.
https://youtu.be/unYu22Ign1E?si=jjUp7MQWjVGD2OSD
This is the most French thing I have ever seen. Thanks for reminding me of it!
I have never smoked in my life, hated the smell of it. But I have a photo of me in high school casually holding a cigarette between my fingers. I have never looked so cool since. Damn.
On our honeymoon in 1999 starting in Paris my husband and I were excited because California had recently banned smoking in bars and restaurants. We were smokers and couldn’t wait to freely enjoy our terrible habit there. What we found amusing was early morning visit to the nearest cafe not far from the university where professeurs were lined up at the bar getting their nicotine fix along with a glass of vin blanc before class.
Ahem... ahem... La cigarette...
Michael, by reading this we can tell either you are not a smoker, or new to France, or both! The story seems to speak about traditional (manufactured) cigarettes, but the French rarely smoke these. The trend in the recent decades is the hand-rolled cigarettes (cigarettes roulées). It is the entire act of lending each other filters and tobacco and the rolling paper that builds the ritual and that’s what people do when standing outside the bars. Also, part of the reason of going away from traditional cigarettes is exactly what you quote - they are associated with image of being “chic”, now mostly rejected as part of the ethos of previous generation (bourgois, patriarchal, capitalist etc). Today’s youth is overwhelmingly leftist and that’s part of the ethos and culture of smoking exclusively roll-ups (purposely cheaper)
I am both: not a smoker AND new to France! Although I did notice one teenage boy rolling a cigarette outside of a tabac in Libourne.
And I intended this being a compliment! 🙃
I remember reading about the trade negotiators at the 1999 WTO convention in Seattle (the one with the huge protests) who were thrown off their game by Seattle’s relatively new indoor smoking ban. They interviewed a Japanese trade representative who said that smoking rituals—lighting the cigarette, how it’s held, the length of the drag and the exhale—had traditionally served as a way to control the rhythm of the negotiations. Without cigs, they were at a loss (and likely in nicotine withdrawal).
Honestly though, it's one thing I ambivalent about, the French just having their favorite breakfast item anytime and anyplace during the day. It's weird. You don't see me eating Lucky Charms during a working lunch.
"You don't see me eating Lucky Charms during a working lunch."
Don't knock it. I hear Lucky Charms ravioli is quite tasty.
https://www.thrillist.com/eat/nation/cereal-dinner-justin-warner-do-or-dine
"...considering the question of whether life is worth living. Perhaps, for Sartre, without cigarettes, it was not."
I sure do abhor the loss that inevitably comes with loving unhealthy habits, losing an artist to a "product" is itself a sad statement, but as another great philosopher noted, "Whatever gets you through the night."
The Unbearable Lightness of Being (film) came out the year I graduated college, beginning my committed, uninterrupted, unreciprocated love affair with Juliette. My wife understands. Still, my wife: not a smoker. So, our marriage endures.
Not sure if it's OK to share a link here, but your post reminded me of Jesse Welles's song, "Vape." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K3Kupv4Lxgo
That said, this: "Vaping is all of the nicotine addiction with none of the ennui. It’s like smoking a Gameboy." Funny and true!
Jesse Welles, the much needed Woodie Guthrie of our day
"Honestly, is there anything more French than a sallow youth in a black turtleneck expelling a thin, hopeless stream of smoke at an outdoor café on a gray Parisian afternoon?"
Nope. Except you forgot his croissant and midday wine at the table. ;)