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David Gottfried's avatar

I have a question regarding the French use of the term commune.

I first read of the French use of the word commune with respect to the Paris commune of 1870. That commune as I understood it was based on specific revolutionary beliefs and arose when Prussia defeated France in battle. But so many other things are called communes in Paris. The region you toured outside of Paris is, apparently, a commune.

You write that a commune is one of the smallest political- geographic entities in France. As I read that, any small entity can therefore be a commune. I am sort of confused. I hope I am not a pain by posing so many questions.

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James Graham's avatar

Communes predate the Commune (an American who knows something about 1870, c'est rare!). In short, communes replaced parishes around the time of the revolution. They are localities and sometimes municipalities. Their form is, in French style, adaptive - no two alike, size, shape, reason to exist. They are an identity, in the sense of 'people of a place.' The Commune was an uprising that attempted to replace Paris as a place run by King and Prefect with a radical, working democracy. Lasted three months, instituted universal education (see Louise Michel), women's rights, rights for foreigners - at this time of the morning I can't remember the name of the Pole put in charge of military defense because he was the best qualified. They also had their satiric side announcing a new electric guillotine that could cut 20,000 heads an hour...Rimbaud and others witnessed the terrible slaughter by the Versaillais after the fall of the Commune. That should get you going, David!

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David Gottfried's avatar

I am familiar with the Paris commune of 1870. I wanted to know why so many things in France were called communes and you provided the answer: They are the successors to parishes. Thanks for edifying me. Now I think I know why different localities in Lousiana are called Parishes; that state was settled by the French.

You alluded to Rimbaud. Years ago, I read the illuminations. It was sort of like the literary equivalent of the Rolling Stones song "Sympathy for the Devil." I will never forget this line: "I expect to become a very vicious madman." I found it exhilerating. I wonder what it sounds like in French.

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James Graham's avatar

Don't have it at my fingertips. The only comment I woud make is that too many Americans get stuck on Rimbaud, the eternal teenager. A great poet but even Rimbaud got sick of being Rimbaud and ran as far away as he could. You're evidently older now so give Baudelaire a look. Or one of the poets who came after. Glad to hear from ya, DG. I ain't writing these pieces so I can dance around the room and say, I did it!

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Tomas Escalabus Conecticus's avatar

This is fun and interesting isn’t it? You should continue to get out more. Why do I need to get a clickable link emailed to me every time I want to comment on here?

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James Graham's avatar

Wella Ô, je ne sais pas, mon ami. Mysteries of the modern digi-organism. Others, too, such as why can't I make keywords for each article, standard practice elsewhere, to help get the word out ? Or, why isn't there a human being anywhere on Substack who answers questions ? Only Helpful Articles. Cool world we're living in. I'm gonna have to make some noise.

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James Graham's avatar

Cos that's the way it works here, just like you send out an email for Every New Thing on TRY THE WINE, a site absolutely everyone should visit ?

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le Hurluberlu's avatar

What's this about Sade ? Want more.

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