Well I certainly hope that I am not officious and dull to the French while I am here, however I have come here in my third year to lap up a little culture. Today I lapped up a whole bunch of different time periods of French and not so French culture.
After class today we had went to the Grand Palais to the Dynamo exhibit. It was a contrast to what you would expect to see in this grand palace that looks so very turn of the century with heavy influence from the 18th century. This exhibit was conceptual art; it was very "modern". The pieces were often like optical illusions or used fluorescent lights. It was very strange to see art from an artist and know that 9 1/2 times out of 10 the artist had no part in the actual making of the art piece they just conceptualized it. Even though I could not make a personal connection to really any pieces I still found the exhibit so much fun and very exciting. I was so different and interesting to be able to interact with the art pieces. With conceptual art I feel that there has to be you, the audience, present for it to be art and with other forms it would we art even without the audience. This idea puts the observer in a vital position and makes them part of the art. If my train of thought is correct than this "modern" art is just as dependent on us as we are on it.
After the fun and sometimes profound moments at the Grand Palais a bunch of us walked across the most ornate bridge crossing the Seine in Paris (if not the whole river). Pont Alexandre III was grand and magnificent. Looking at the things makes me wonder how they survived both World Wars with what appears to be minimal damage and make me so grateful that Hitler's order to destroy Paris was not followed. The beauty and the extravagance is astounding not only in what I visited/ saw today but every day I walk the streets of Paris everything seems to be just that much more beautiful and ornate.
After walking across the bridge we went to the recreated Shakespeare and Company bookstore and browsed around for a bit. I plan on going back right when they open so that there might be less of a crowd and I can enjoy the uniqueness that is Shakespeare and Company. I did buy A book "Tender is the Night" by Fitzgerald and can't wait to devour it. After the bookstore a smaller group of us went to eat at a little restaurant Maison Blanc and it was no good. The service was bad and took forever and some of the people I was with had issues with their food. But we paid ten euro for three courses so I guess we get what we paid for. After that we went to get gelato for the first time ever and I most defiantly want to go back and get some more. So with that I wish you a good whatever day it is where you are and hope that you to will one day be able to read a book outside the store and look out onto the Seine and the setting light.
Jusqu'à demain
Bisous ~Janice
Grand Palais
Untitled (to you, Heiner, with Admiration and Affection)-
Dan Flavin (1973)
Petit Palais, right across the road
Pont Alexandre III
Shakespeare and Company, reading Fitzgerald
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