Music Video: MARIE ANTOINETTE - Perfect Day

[lamortparfaite]

I love Sofia Coppola's movie. I love Kirsten Dunst. And Marie Antoinette is one of my favourite historical figures. If people took the bother to read the amazing biography written by Antonia Fraser, they'd understand she was a victim and not the selfish bitch French Revolution historians portrayed. By the way, let's dismantle a myth: she never said

Comments

[anya1976]

omg this is great and OMG thank you for saying that she NEVER said it it annoys me to no end that MA communities all have something about "let them eat cake" in them, i wish more people WOULD read something about her instead of what they think they KNOW about her.

[lamortparfaite]

Thank you! I totally know what you mean: it bugs me too when people keep claiming she spoke those infamous words, even though I just explained them the true origin of the legend.

[anya1976]

well the only way to not give power to those rumors is to stop using those words in reference to Marie-Antoinette.
I mean it's been hundreds of years yet they are still hating this woman for things she never did. It's sad that rumors can follow you around forever while the truth is buried and hardly anyone ever knows it.
It's unfortunate that these rumors cost her her life ultimately but people who do admire her and want to pay tribute to the movie really should drop the "let them eat cake" crap since it does nothing but dishonor this woman.

[lamortparfaite]

In my opinion, ignoring the matter is not gonna solve the problem. This whole "let them eat cake" thing has been passed over through centuries not as a rumour, but as a historical reality. It's become a cultural stereotype. It's the one thing most people (think they) know about Marie Antoinette, along with the fact that she was guillotined. Misinformation is just going to keep spreading, if we don't fight it. I think Sofia's movie has helped a lot in this way. Oh, in case you were wondering: my putting the short sequence where she says it in the end of the music video was meant to be ironic.

[anya1976]

you are right ignoring it is not going to help.... I just wish more people would read about her esp antonia's book cus it's fabulous. and yea her "quote" is touted as fact, but instead of using it as a reference to MA that just keeps this "fact" going as truth. I would think that not using it would be better and if someone asks make sure to direct them to reading books about her.

[lamortparfaite]

Also, I believe some people who watched the movie didn't really get its meaning and like to think of MA as an 18th-century Paris Hilton (as if she was someone to admire or look up to...). Antonia's fantastic book is probably the only antidote.
Well, I'm glad there are other true Marie Antoinette admirers out there! :)

[anya1976]

ITA that people didn't get the meaning. I'm not sure people looked past the flash and clothes and pretty scenery, That she was the Queen and she could do as she pleased.
And yes i do agree that people probably did think of her as a paris hilton type (unfortunately)which i personally cannot stand.
Yes antonia's book is fabulous and i plan to get a couple other books about her. One i really want is Queen of Fashion what marie antoinette wore to the revolution, but i still have a couple books to read about henry VIII's 6 wives and a book about Anne Boylen to read, but yes i am a true MA fan there are a few of us lurking out here lol

[lamortparfaite]

I tried reading other MA's biographies, but they were not even nearly as good as Antonia's. At the moment I'm reading an Anne Boleyn's book by Carolly Erickson. I almost forgot: I'm a fan of Elizabeth I as well.

[anya1976]

the Anne Boleyn book i have is by joanna denny, not sure how that one will be yet i have been slacking on my reading.
Have u read queen of fashion? if it sucks then maybe i don't want to get it. i'm sure i will probably be spoiled by antonia's book anyway though lol

[lamortparfaite]

No, I haven't read Queen of Fashion. Seems very interesting, though.