Put on your Breton sweat shirt, throw away your mobile phone..: why French life is not so “cool”

A young French journalist, Benjamin Carle, decided to try and live using only “made in France” products. It brought him to the conclusion that only old-style country dwellers could approach it, though even they would have little to wear. Benjamin had to throw away his jeans, his mobile phone and laptop and risk life (literally?) without condoms – none of which are made here. Clothing seemed to be high-end and rather stereotypically French: Breton sailor shirts and Basque berets.
As for food Benjamin discovered that the “produits de terroir” are available around the country, but the preparation needed meant that many more popular restaurants and brasseries used pre-prepared meals which generally did not contain local produce. Ironically he discovered that McDonalds use only French beef in their big Macs and French fries really are French.
Culturally the journalist felt that France was lagging behind. He listened to Johnny Halliday rather than David Bowie, missed out on “Gravity” and had had to say “chouette” instead of “cool”. The French were not re-inventing themselves but relying on their past and blaming foreign influences (whilst queuing up to see the latest Hollywood blockbuster whilst munching on a big Mac; because it’s cool).
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