This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/7246634.stm

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
France takes its comics very seriously France takes its comics very seriously
(20 minutes later)
By Hugh Schofield BBC News, Angouleme, FranceBy Hugh Schofield BBC News, Angouleme, France
France sees itself as the world capital of "bandes dessinees" or BDs, what we might call comics. France sees itself as the world capital of "bandes dessinees" or BDs, what we might call comics.Thousands of albums are published every year and there is even an international festival in the town of Angouleme.
Thousands of albums are published every year and there is even an international festival in the town of Angouleme.
I was bear-hugged at the station by a sky-blue pixie in a Phrygian bonnet.I was bear-hugged at the station by a sky-blue pixie in a Phrygian bonnet.
The International Comics Festival is the Cannes of "Bay-Days"The International Comics Festival is the Cannes of "Bay-Days"
Scores of them had descended on Angouleme and they were marauding through the town like a medieval army, bopping people on the head with soft clubs and the like. High jinks indeed.Scores of them had descended on Angouleme and they were marauding through the town like a medieval army, bopping people on the head with soft clubs and the like. High jinks indeed.
Who were this tribe of cerulean leprechauns? And why did I find their cavorting both familiar and annoying?Who were this tribe of cerulean leprechauns? And why did I find their cavorting both familiar and annoying?
Memories of children's television in the 1970s and a dreadful song by a Dutchman called Father Abraham flooded back.Memories of children's television in the 1970s and a dreadful song by a Dutchman called Father Abraham flooded back.
Of course! It is the Smurfs, now aged 50, in fact celebrating their actual 50th birthday with this merry-making publicity stunt in the cobbled lanes of a provincial town in western France.Of course! It is the Smurfs, now aged 50, in fact celebrating their actual 50th birthday with this merry-making publicity stunt in the cobbled lanes of a provincial town in western France.
Les bandes dessineesLes bandes dessinees
The Smurfs, or to be more precise les Schtroumpfs, are not actually French. They are Belgian, and their creator, Pierre Culliford, was in fact half English.The Smurfs, or to be more precise les Schtroumpfs, are not actually French. They are Belgian, and their creator, Pierre Culliford, was in fact half English.
Next to the bit for regular books you will find an equally big, if not bigger section, for Les Bay-DayNext to the bit for regular books you will find an equally big, if not bigger section, for Les Bay-Day
But they are part of the canon because, where comic strips are concerned, France and Belgium are reckoned to be one and the same.But they are part of the canon because, where comic strips are concerned, France and Belgium are reckoned to be one and the same.
They call it "la bande dessinee Franco-Belge" and, for all the frolicking frivolity of our little friends in blue, it is no joking matter.They call it "la bande dessinee Franco-Belge" and, for all the frolicking frivolity of our little friends in blue, it is no joking matter.
If you have ever been to a book-shop in France you will know what I mean. If you have ever been to a bookshop in France you will know what I mean.
Next to the bit for regular books - you know, those old-fashioned things with writing in them - you will find an equally big, if not bigger, section for Les Bay-Day.Next to the bit for regular books - you know, those old-fashioned things with writing in them - you will find an equally big, if not bigger, section for Les Bay-Day.
You can spot it when you walk in the door because invariably there are several glum-faced individuals sprawled on the floor or sitting against a wall engrossed with an album that they have purloined from the shelves.You can spot it when you walk in the door because invariably there are several glum-faced individuals sprawled on the floor or sitting against a wall engrossed with an album that they have purloined from the shelves.
Quite why staff allow them to do this I have never been able to fathom.Quite why staff allow them to do this I have never been able to fathom.
It is not as if you can go in and pick up a novel and just read it in the shop without paying.It is not as if you can go in and pick up a novel and just read it in the shop without paying.
Comic connoisseursComic connoisseurs
If you look further you will see that the BD section - pronounced Bay-Day - is in fact sub-divided into several categories.If you look further you will see that the BD section - pronounced Bay-Day - is in fact sub-divided into several categories.
The fairs attract hundreds of fans from across France and beyondThe fairs attract hundreds of fans from across France and beyond
There will be classics - Asterix, Tintin, Lucky Luke, the cowboy who shoots faster than his shadow - plus many that never made it out of Franco-Belgium, like Rahan - l'enfant des ages farouches or child of the age of savagery - about a Tarzan-like figure from prehistoric times.There will be classics - Asterix, Tintin, Lucky Luke, the cowboy who shoots faster than his shadow - plus many that never made it out of Franco-Belgium, like Rahan - l'enfant des ages farouches or child of the age of savagery - about a Tarzan-like figure from prehistoric times.
There will be the latest best-sellers. Top of the book lists this month - beating Harry Potter and the latest on President Nicolas Sarkozy's love life - has been the last in a long-running adventure series called Thirteen about a man trying to rediscover his identity after losing his memory.There will be the latest best-sellers. Top of the book lists this month - beating Harry Potter and the latest on President Nicolas Sarkozy's love life - has been the last in a long-running adventure series called Thirteen about a man trying to rediscover his identity after losing his memory.
There will be the American comics section, the Japanese Manga section - this one getting bigger and bigger because they are getting more and more popular.There will be the American comics section, the Japanese Manga section - this one getting bigger and bigger because they are getting more and more popular.
There will also be the adult section, with works of quite astonishing vividness.There will also be the adult section, with works of quite astonishing vividness.
And then, pride of place, the section for what the French call "les Auteurs".And then, pride of place, the section for what the French call "les Auteurs".
Here, the most highly regarded authors are catalogued by name.Here, the most highly regarded authors are catalogued by name.
This is the art-house end of the market.This is the art-house end of the market.
An album in this section may sell only a few hundred copies - compared to half a million for the latest hit - but the true connoisseurs will know all about it.An album in this section may sell only a few hundred copies - compared to half a million for the latest hit - but the true connoisseurs will know all about it.
Here, experimentation and the avant-garde allow the Bay-Day fan to see him or herself as more than just a consumer, rather as a cultured devotee of a thriving art form.Here, experimentation and the avant-garde allow the Bay-Day fan to see him or herself as more than just a consumer, rather as a cultured devotee of a thriving art form.
Aesthetic valuesAesthetic values
In Angouleme, les Schtroumpfs notwithstanding, this is very much the message.In Angouleme, les Schtroumpfs notwithstanding, this is very much the message.
It is the Cannes festival of Bay-Day world and, just as in film the French profoundly believe that there are values that are beyond the purely commercial, so too in cartoon strips.It is the Cannes festival of Bay-Day world and, just as in film the French profoundly believe that there are values that are beyond the purely commercial, so too in cartoon strips.
The difference is that in Bay-Day - unlike film - the French feel they really do still lead the world.The difference is that in Bay-Day - unlike film - the French feel they really do still lead the world.
This is important because the supposed decline of French civilisation is a sore point.This is important because the supposed decline of French civilisation is a sore point.
A recent article in Time magazine set off howls of outrage because it said French literature and art had become provincial and inward-looking.A recent article in Time magazine set off howls of outrage because it said French literature and art had become provincial and inward-looking.
Far from it, rejoin the French - look at the "ninth art". That is what they call Bay-Day.Far from it, rejoin the French - look at the "ninth art". That is what they call Bay-Day.
Who can deny us pride of place in this fast-growing modern medium which sits so modishly at the cusp of the word and image, the written page and the internet, the virtual and the real?Who can deny us pride of place in this fast-growing modern medium which sits so modishly at the cusp of the word and image, the written page and the internet, the virtual and the real?
Personally, I have never got the Bay-Day bug.Personally, I have never got the Bay-Day bug.
The notion that they are a new and challenging way of representing reality I find a bit of a cop-out.The notion that they are a new and challenging way of representing reality I find a bit of a cop-out.
Still, I dare say I am behind the times.Still, I dare say I am behind the times.
The theorists all tell us that what with TV, computers, video games and so on, future generations will depend more and more on visual rather than verbal acuity.The theorists all tell us that what with TV, computers, video games and so on, future generations will depend more and more on visual rather than verbal acuity.
Perhaps the French are right to take comics as they do, so very seriously.Perhaps the French are right to take comics as they do, so very seriously.
From Our Own Correspondent was broadcast on Saturday 16 February, 2008 at 1130 GMT on BBC Radio 4. Please check the programme schedules for World Service transmission times.From Our Own Correspondent was broadcast on Saturday 16 February, 2008 at 1130 GMT on BBC Radio 4. Please check the programme schedules for World Service transmission times.