Mapping Paris

In this episode Lauren considers not one particular site, but the many images, symbols and stories that make up the Tour de France.  This episode considers how the history of this great sporting event is entangled with the conception of a unified French Republic. Through this discussion we hope to find to what extent sport is a product of society, as much as it is its true reflection?

By Lauren BW

This episode reveals an analysis of the 17th century engineering feat which has inspired protean purpose and continued relevance.

By JG Dolder

In this episode, Liz discusses how the old and unused railways of Paris have been reused for local entertainment and leisure. She uses the example of Le Hasard Ludique in the 17eme arrondissement.

By Liz Golz

Using a hybrid methodology of photography, audio, and post-production, Pauline's site visit aims to analyse Station F’s entanglement with the past and future. Reusing the 1920s Halle Freyssinet is a compelling example of the entangled fragments of the railway and industrial economy and the conversion towards a knowledge-based economy. This process pacifies the perception of high-technology industries by familiarising itself with its industrial past. Station F is staged at the crossroads of an attempt to disavow the historical past whilst being unable to untether itself from it.

She used her camera and phone’s recording application, capturing the sounds and simultaneously taking photographs as she traversed from the 12th arrondissement’s Pont de Bercy, crossing the Seine, and into the 13th. Using editing software, she overlayed the sound recording, matched the photographs, replaced the sound recording layer with the 24:57 minute ‘STATION F Big Launch Party with Emmanuel Macron’ audio from the opening day of Station F, and transcribed the video to match the photos with the text.

By Pauline Blanchet

Widely known around the world as an international symbol of art the Musée du Louvre is one of the most museums in the world. From its rich history as a former royal palace to housing academies to its immense art collection, the Louvre is an undeniable part of Paris’ history and a symbol of its status in the art world. With changes in technology, it is even more accessible through virtual experiences and exhibitions, but at what cost? This episode will look at the ways in which the Internet helps to democratize accessibility to art and also how It alters or enhances the museum experience.

By Renée Rodriguez

While a fascination with ancient Egyptian language, symbolism and society is a recurring phenomenon spanning thousands of years, the term Egyptomania describes renewed Western interest in ancient Egypt following Napoleon’s French campaign in Egypt in 1798. Architecture – as the mode of continually structuring the physical environment – provides a lens into the history of France’s complex fascination with Egypt regarding aestheticism, colonial dominance, and cultural diplomacy.

From Park Monceau’s masonic pyramid to the iconic Pyramid du Louvre, Fountain du Palmier’s esoteric symbolism to the flamboyant Louxor Palais du Cinema, and from Luxor Obelisk at Plaza de la Concorde to sphinxes scattered across the city, there is a plethora of ancient Egyptian inspired structures in Paris. These monuments reveal much about the city’s dynamic history and create a memorable legacy for the public gaze.

By Sumayyah Sheikh

On the eastern edge of Paris sits the once-influential Domaine National de Saint-Cloud. Destroyed by the Franco-Prussian war of 1870 the sight now hosts beautiful gardens and walking trails. In this episode, Seth explores efforts to rebuild the chateau and the effect that would have on the surrounding space.

By Seth Jackson

For our introductory episode, Anna-Louise Milne, Professor at the University of London, Insititute in Paris takes us through Invalides and the objective behind the site visit essay.

Bienvenue to Mapping Paris! Join us on an auditory adventure of Paris, a capital city that encompasses a multitude of emblematic monuments, a focal point of intellectual progress, and of course secluded passages. Each episode will offer a new scope to the sites of this iconic city; allow us to guide you through the stories of these places and open up an understanding of what Paris is today. On-y-va, let us embark to uncover the hidden stories while Mapping Paris.