Nowadays, the Parisian neighborhood of Châtelet is known among young people as a gathering place where they flirt, take part in consumerism at its fullest within a large shopping mall, and engage in street interviews with absurd or provocative questions. This episode explores the patterns that have led to the convergence of youth toward this specific area of Paris, often coming from distant suburbs. Once synonymous with life, identity expression, entertainment, and leisure, this place now faces increasing scrutiny from authorities, who try to limit gatherings through police presence—often stopping young men and women without real justification.
Authorities seek peace and a neutralized space, whereas the youth longs for a place to express itself. This policy of neutralization reflects a broader pattern of silent domination imposed by bourgeois categories seeking to preserve their power and social monopoly. These recent attempts at regulation in the heart of Paris can be seen as part of a broader effort to advance gentrification—running counter to the very urban DNA of this area, which was meant to be occupied and shared by all.
This episode was prepared with the following academic works:
Charpy, M. (2020) ‘Silence intérieur et machineries de la communication au XIXe siècle’, Socio-anthropologie, Nouvelle série 41, pp. 23-38. available at : https://journals.openedition.org/socio-anthropologie/6561
Hass, C. and Hérard, M. (2008) ‘Les Halles, lieu d'une seule jeunesse. Un monde commun de styles différenciés’, Les Annales de la Recherche Urbaine, 105, pp. 46–54. Available at: https://www.persee.fr/doc/aru_0180-930x_2008_num_105_1_2762
All the rights of the cover photo are owned by : PATRICK KOVARIK / AFP
Thanks for listening to us, take care <3
Umut