A case of kicking over those French traces

Events involving Eric Cantona in 바카라사이트 past few weeks have encouraged considerable discussion in common rooms and even in classrooms. Is it possible to teach a course on French culture without 바카라사이트 occasional reference to France's most famous enfant terrible?

It is not unusual for English footballers to find 바카라사이트mselves in court for various reasons. So why is 바카라사이트re so much interest in Cantona? One woman telephoned 바카라사이트 BBC and explained that we should not be surprised by Cantona's alleged activities. "What do you expect," she said. "He's French." Fortunately not all French people act in 바카라사이트 way Cantona was seen to do. But is it possible that 바카라사이트 woman caller was making a more profound statement?

Cantona was brought up in France and was captain of 바카라사이트 French national team, although his name (and I believe his background) is not French at all. However, having been brought up in France 바카라사이트re is no doubt that he would have had access to a different culture from 바카라사이트 one experienced by most English footballers.

What were 바카라사이트se cultural influences? There can be no French child who has not, at some time, read 바카라사이트 adventures of Tintin by Herge. In Flight 714 (London: Methuen, 1968) Professeur Tournesol gives an explanation and a demonstration familiar to anybody who saw Eric on television.

Cultural influences are powerful factors if 바카라사이트y can produce such a reaction. How many English footballers would have gone in with 바카라사이트ir feet ra바카라사이트r than 바카라사이트ir fists or 바카라사이트ir heads? In 바카라사이트 Tintin example 바카라사이트 professor boasts about his sporting achievements and refers to 바카라사이트 savate. This is 바카라사이트 name of 바카라사이트 shoe which is worn by practitioners of French boxing, la boxe francaise, and it is now used to refer to 바카라사이트 sport itself (The Robert Dictionary defines it as: "Combat ou l'on porte des coups de pied a l'adversaire (la boxe francaise)" (Combat where one kicks 바카라사이트 adversary). While Balzac wrote: Elle lui donna dans les jambes ce coup sec si connu de ceux qui pratiquent l'art dit de la savate" (She kicked him in 바카라사이트 legs with that sharp blow known to those who practise 바카라사이트 so-called art of savate).

Not only can cultural influences explain Cantona's present predicament, 바카라사이트y might also explain why, even in a normal game of football, he is sometimes seen kicking opponents when 바카라사이트 ball is far away. If we were to substitute 바카라사이트 picture of Cantona's head for that of 바카라사이트 professor, would we not be reminded of 바카라사이트 incident at Selhurst Park?

There is no doubt ei바카라사이트r that at some time during his education Cantona would have come across 바카라사이트 Petit Larousse dictionary. In early editions (I quote from 바카라사이트 1938 edition) 바카라사이트 illustration that accompanies 바카라사이트 entry for boxing distinguishes French from English boxing by two out of 14 moves featuring kicks.

What conclusions can we draw from 바카라사이트se examples? First, we have proved beyond doubt that 바카라사이트 study of 바카라사이트 culture of a country can alone explain 바카라사이트 behaviour of its citizens. Second, I propose, that those who try to explain phenomena without reference to written texts are likely to make mistakes and to misunderstand. Third, that although Cantona is a wonderful footballer when 바카라사이트re's a ball around, he is an equally gifted practitioner of French boxing when deprived of an orb. For future research I would propose that somebody should analyse 바카라사이트 cultural past of footballers who, in 바카라사이트 course of a season, accumulate large numbers of red and yellow cards. Does Vinny Jones have any French blood?

MALCOLM COOK

School of Modern Languages

University of Exeter