The Paris Syndrome
Interesting article.
For those of you too sleepy/too hungover (I know my audience) to read the whole thing, it's basically about a psychological phenominon known as the "Paris Syndrome" that affects Japanese tourists when they visit France. Seems the Japanese hold the French up as some cultural, classy ideal and they long to visit the country to experience first-hand the sweet Gallic life. Of course, when they get there, it becomes clear pretty quick that life in France isn't exactly The Umbrellas of Cherbourg all the time. In fact, France is just as gross as any other country in the world (with the exception of Switzerland; those guys are neat freaks). So, after years of daydreams in their Salaryman cubicle about the majesty of France and all it's opulance, after they catch their first glimpse of a drunk man in a beret taking a dump in an alley after too much vin ordinaire at the cafe, some of the Japanese become completely untethered.
Some become ultra-paraniod, feeling like they're in danger and/or being followed. Some glom onto whatever knowledge they've got of French history and become convinced that they're, say, Louis XIV. And while, admittedly, I'd pay top dollar to see a Japanese tourist pretend to be the Sun King (especially if he attempts to break into Versailles), this has become a fairly serious problem, affecting 5 or 6 people a year. I know that doesn't sound like a lot but, in terms of mass-psychosis, that's a signifigant event.
Anyway, I just thought that the concept of being so let down by a vacation that you pretend to be French royalty was sort of interesting. And, as far as syndrome's go, it's certaintly better than the Jerusalem Syndrome. With that, you get all religious and nobody will want to hang out with you.
Particularly if you try to fit the word "crucifixtion" into every conversation.
For those of you too sleepy/too hungover (I know my audience) to read the whole thing, it's basically about a psychological phenominon known as the "Paris Syndrome" that affects Japanese tourists when they visit France. Seems the Japanese hold the French up as some cultural, classy ideal and they long to visit the country to experience first-hand the sweet Gallic life. Of course, when they get there, it becomes clear pretty quick that life in France isn't exactly The Umbrellas of Cherbourg all the time. In fact, France is just as gross as any other country in the world (with the exception of Switzerland; those guys are neat freaks). So, after years of daydreams in their Salaryman cubicle about the majesty of France and all it's opulance, after they catch their first glimpse of a drunk man in a beret taking a dump in an alley after too much vin ordinaire at the cafe, some of the Japanese become completely untethered.
Some become ultra-paraniod, feeling like they're in danger and/or being followed. Some glom onto whatever knowledge they've got of French history and become convinced that they're, say, Louis XIV. And while, admittedly, I'd pay top dollar to see a Japanese tourist pretend to be the Sun King (especially if he attempts to break into Versailles), this has become a fairly serious problem, affecting 5 or 6 people a year. I know that doesn't sound like a lot but, in terms of mass-psychosis, that's a signifigant event.
Anyway, I just thought that the concept of being so let down by a vacation that you pretend to be French royalty was sort of interesting. And, as far as syndrome's go, it's certaintly better than the Jerusalem Syndrome. With that, you get all religious and nobody will want to hang out with you.
Particularly if you try to fit the word "crucifixtion" into every conversation.
posted by Clinton at 7:43 AM
2 Comments:
I ate rabbit while in Paris. To me it was just like being in the south. Except the women were really skinny.
Totally. And EVERYONE smokes there. It's like America in the 1950's when we had cartoon character's shilling cigarettes. Except, you know, with silly accents.
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