Bonjour! My name is Genevieve Manise, and I am a third-year student at GW pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in International Affairs concentrating in Comparative Politics, Economics, and Social Systems. This fall semester, I am studying in Aix-en-Provence, France at the American College of the Mediterranean Institute for American Universities. I am taking courses in Opera and Feminism, French Colonialism, the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict, Impressionist Art, and French.
A unique part of my study abroad program is that most classes include excursions to enhance our learning. For my French Colonialism in the Middle East and North Africa, we traveled to Marseille, located on the Mediterranean coast.
Marseille is the second largest city in France after Paris and during the French Colonial period, it was France’s leading port. It provided easy access to French colonies in the Middle East and Northern Africa such as present-day Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, Syria, and Lebanon. The motivation for French Colonialism stemmed from competition with other European powers, economic growth, the purpose of civilizing, and moral superiority.
Here are some notable locations we visited:
On the front side of the Chambre de Commerce, there is a mural of Marseille receiving goods from all the French colonies around the world. The accumulation of wealth depicted included various animals, diverse agricultural bounties, and people. The diversity represented the wealth accumulated by France from the colonies. As an American, it is interesting to see a Colonialist empire displaying people and products as bounty, in a way that is not as prominent in the United States.
Jardin des Vestiges is the archaeological site of the remains of Marseille’s old port. The remains were discovered due to the construction of a mall neighboring the archeology site. Now, there are replicas of boats that would sail into this port delivering unique commodities from each colony. While this archaeology site is in the middle of the city, it feels like an intrusion of everyday life. For example, we were often interrupted by people commuting to the mall.
The Uniqlo store in Marseille used to be a big colonial investment bank, with infrastructure still in place today. The original vault door still exists and is in the dressing room area. Another clash of old and new - this time the occupation is a commercial one from another country.
Lastly, on the stairs to the train station, there are statues of women representing each part of the world's French colonies, such as the “Colonies D’Asie.” Some women are depicted topless surrounded by various commodities from their region. These statues now do not seem appropriate and could symbolize the oppression women faced during colonial times. Furthermore, these statues represent the power dynamic between France and its colonies.
Throughout this seven-stop tour, we discovered the impact and memorialization of colonialism that is overlooked in everyday life. If one did not take the time to look at these landmarks and memorials and explore the details, one would walk right by without realizing it. That recurrent theme of colonialism and French superiority is omnipresent in Marseille. While many believe the worst of colonialism is in the past, repercussions and monuments to the impact of colonialism are still present and bear silent witness today.
I am very appreciative of this opportunity to experience and explore part of the remaining impact of French colonialism today. I look forward to sharing more of my adventures during my semester abroad. Au revoir!
Genevieve Manise
Fall 2024
IAU - Aix-en-Provence, France
Elliott School of International Affairs
International Affairs Major