Abstract
The omnipresence of the products of global cultural industries and iconic monuments and artworks produces, maintains, and renews an impression of familiarity with images of elsewhere. We distinguish the “background” imaginaries that are automatically constituted through the accumulated consumption of cultural products from the self-reflexive process involved in the construction of an individual imaginary, a process that is simultaneously conscious and subconscious, and which expresses diverse experiences as interests or disinterests that transcend the initial emotions linked to their consumption. This chapter shows how in a globalized cultural and aesthetic context, imaginaries play an important role in helping individuals to define their identity and world view. Aesthetico-cultural imaginaries are the most influential, notably because they echo widespread consumption patterns, as shown in the previous chapter. These imaginaries help individuals to understand the world and recontextualize national diversity at the global level.
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Notes
- 1.
Woman, 26 years old, holds a bachelor’s degree in foreign language and literature studies and a BTS in commercial management, works as a sales assistant, lives in the Île-de-France region; father is from Ghana, mother is from France.
- 2.
Woman, 25 years old, born in France, works as a nurse in a large paediatric hospital in Paris, lives with her mother in the Paris region; father was born in Italy and mother was born in France.
- 3.
Since the survey was conducted, she has become a State Counsellor of Myanmar.
- 4.
Man, 22 years old, born in Belgium, currently unemployed (last job: waiter in a restaurant in Versailles), holds a baccalaureate in economics and social sciences following a chequered educational career, lives alone near Versailles; father is Belgian and mother is French.
- 5.
Even despite the fact that he is credited with having humiliated Adolf Hitler during the Olympic Games in 1936, forcing the latter to flee the Berlin stadium in order to avoid shaking hands with the Black athlete, who had just won four gold medals.
- 6.
The survey was conducted before his death. The results were not affected by the media coverage.
- 7.
Woman, 28 years old, born in France, holds a bachelor’s degree in translation, works as a management secretary in a communication firm, lives with her boyfriend in the Île-de-France region; both parents are French.
- 8.
Man, 22 years old, born in Belgium, currently unemployed (last job: waiter in a restaurant in Versailles), holds a baccalaureate in economics and social sciences following a chequered educational career, lives alone near Versailles (West of Paris, in the Île-de-France Region); father is Belgian and mother is French.
- 9.
Man, 27 years old, born in Senegal, works as an orderly in a Paris hospital, lives with his younger brother in the north of Paris, in the Île-de-France region; both parents are Senegalese.
- 10.
Woman, 27 years old, born in Indonesia, holds a master’s degree in communication, works as a secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, lives with her partner in Paris; both parents are French.
- 11.
Woman, 20 years old, born in France, holds a baccalaureate in economics and social science, works as a waitress in a restaurant, lives with her mother in a “ZUS”—Zone Urbaine Sensible, sensitive urban area—in the north of Paris (Île-de-France region); both parents are French.
- 12.
Man, 29 years old, born in France, looking for work in management, holds a bachelor’s degree in economic and social administration, lives with his parents in the Île-de-France region; both parents are French.
- 13.
Man, 22 years old, born in Belgium, currently unemployed (last job: waiter in a restaurant in Versailles), holds a baccalaureate in economics and social sciences following a chequered educational career, lives alone near Versailles (West of Paris, Île-de-France region); father is Belgian and mother is French.
- 14.
Woman, 27 years old, born in Indonesia, holds a master’s degree in communication, works as secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, lives with her partner in Paris; both parents are French.
- 15.
Man, 23 years old, born in France, pursuing a master’s degree in history, lives with his parents in the Île-de-France region; both parents are French.
- 16.
Man, 22 years old, born in Belgium, currently unemployed (last job: waiter in a restaurant in Versailles), holds a baccalaureate in economics and social sciences following a chequered educational career, lives alone near Versailles (West of Paris, Île-de-France Region); father is Belgian and mother is French.
- 17.
Man, 21 years old, born in France, pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Japanese, works in a recreation centre, lives with his parents in the Île-de-France region; father is Egyptian and mother is Algerian.
- 18.
Woman, 27 years old, born in Indonesia, holds a master’s degree in communication, works as secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, lives with her partner in Paris; both parents are French.
- 19.
Man, 29 years old, born in France, looking for work in management, holds a bachelor’s degree in economic and social administration, lives with his parents in the Île-de-France region; both parents are French.
- 20.
Man, 22 years old, born in Belgium, currently unemployed (last job: waiter in a restaurant in Versailles), holds a baccalaureate in economics and social sciences following a chequered educational career, lives alone near Versailles (West of Paris, Île-de-France region); father is Belgian and mother is French.
- 21.
Woman, 20 years old, born in France, holds a baccalaureate in economics and social science, works as a waitress in a restaurant, lives with her mother in a “ZUS”—sensitive urban area—in the north of Paris, Île-de-France region; both parents are French.
- 22.
Man, 22 years old, born in France, has lived and attended high school in Munich, pursuing a master’s degree in political science; lives with his French mother and German stepfather in Paris.
- 23.
Man, 24 years old, born in France, has received training in advertising and communications, holds a professional certificate from the Beaux-Arts, works part-time in an advertising agency and lives with roommates in Paris; father is Belgian, mother is Spanish.
- 24.
Nickname given to the boxer Rubin Carter, who was wrongly condemned to life in prison in the 1950s for a triple murder he did not commit.
- 25.
Man, 27 years old, born in Senegal, works as an orderly in a Paris hospital, lives with his younger brother in the north of Paris; both parents are Senegalese.
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Cicchelli, V., Octobre, S. (2018). From Global Cultural References to Global Imaginaries. In: Aesthetico-Cultural Cosmopolitanism and French Youth. Consumption and Public Life. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-66311-1_3
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