Culture wars: France vs. Italy
in two cultures rich with artistic history, who reigns supreme?
I have always been a francophile. I started to learn French in high school, from a Quebecoise who left her corporate job in Montreal to become a teacher in the US. I will never forget our first day: she threw around different colored balls and shouted the names of the colors at us in French. I was was mesmerized by the sound of another language and knew I had to learn to speak French. I ended up living in France for 2 years. I studied abroad in both Paris and Aix-en-Provence and later worked as an English teaching assistant in Verdun, France.
It wasn’t until I moved to Italy that I realized France and Italy are actually friendly enemies (when my mom found out I was moving to Italy, she said she felt like I was cheating on France). It is my suspicion that because they have a similar values system, they end up competing for whose cultural identity reigns supreme.
Food
The day I told me Italian teacher Guiseppe that I couldn’t find a good cheese plate in Napoli like I could in Nice, I saw smoke rising out of his head. He schooled me with information, spouting facts about how Italian cheese consistently outperform French ones in international cheese competitions. I have since realized that taking a bite out of freshly made mozzarella is a little piece of heaven (or as the French say, un petit moment du bonheur).
Both Italian and French cheeses are marketed and sold all over the world, just like their wine. There is constant bickering between industry trade organizations about which products are superior. Italians have perfected and protected the ancient production of ricotta, mozzarella, gorgonzola, pecorino, and burrata, while the French herald conte, brie, camembert, roquefort.
Beyond cheese, both cultures rank fresh, high quality food very highly in their hierarchy of needs. Both cultures honor the sanctity of the dinner table. Since I enjoy both types of cuisine, I will not take sides, except to pledge my allegiance to French butter. I profess to prefer the French croissant over the Italian cornetto.
Fashion
I appreciate how well dressed people are in France and Italy. In a recent Gumshoe post,
urges her readers to “shop like collector, not a buyer”. French and Italian people shop like collectors: they invest in high quality pieces that last a long time and complement their overall wardrobes. They do not give in to trends or garments made with poor construction. They also dress well for their bodies, regardless of their shape and size, by tailoring clothes to fit properly. This is the mindset of a collector who has the longevity of their wardrobe in mind.Like most Americans, I am completely comfortable walking around town in a pair of joggers and a crew neck sweatshirt, something that is truly appalling to Italian people. I’ve noticed that both French and Italian women can pull a few high-quality pieces together and they pull-off the effortlessly chic look, something that has always escaped me.
I will not pretend to understand or own any items from the elite Italian fashion houses of Fendi, Gucci, Armani, or Versace. Nor have I ever even found a vintage Dior, Hermes, Yves Saint Laurent, or Luis Vuitton treasure. Both Paris and Milan fashion weeks compete for the title of “the best” - but an average Jane like me cannot judge. I have observed Italian fashion tends to be a bit more flashy and colorful, compared to French style which is classic and subdued. Be it the Doc Martins of Napoli or the ballet slippers of Paris, I love to observe from a cafe.
Lifestyle
Both cultures have a very strong tendency towards pleasure. I remember when my younger brother came to visit me in France, he asked “why is everyone kissing all the time?” In either country you will see lots of relaxing: people enjoying nice wine at a table for hours, workers taking a break to sunbathe on the beach. One of my favorite artists who highlights the existence of pleasure is Sam Youkilis. When asked how he finds beauty in the every day, Youkilis responded, “I never stop looking or working which is a blessing and a curse.” Whether it’s the dolce vita or the art de vivre, I am here for it. One big difference I’ve observed is the social attitude of Italian people. It is a much more chatty culture down here in Napoli and I’ve really enjoyed socializing with people as part of daily life.
Obviously, making mass generalizations is not always a healthy way for an outsider to view a culture. Every human is unique, but it is fun to draw awareness to themes. Do you have any observations about healthy rivalries in the cultures you know? In the video below, Italy vs. Spain is explored. In the US, we have a rivalry with Canada in ice hockey, similar to football (soccer) here in Europe. I’d love to know in the comments!
I liked this comparison as someone who studied French in grade school (so retain much more French than other languages) and is now learning Italian (which feels like a slow, halting process). Your notes did strike me as very much France vs. Northern Italy. Have you noticed similar patterns between cultural nuances of Southern Italy or Sicily?
😊 lovely read. Had an interesting “run-in” with some followers over the PESTO genovese vs PISTOU Provençal rivalry. 😂 no peace accord yet 🌸