Marseille and Identity
In our 360 course cluster, we talked a lot about identity. Identity of a city, immigrant identity, the lack of identity and multiple identies. We learned about the history of the Mediterranean region as a whole, investigated the deep connections Marseille's present has to the past, and studied many different types of immigrant stories. An overarching theme and goal was to construct and identify an identity for Marseille as either a French city or Mediterrean or both at once. Many people ask the question: "Is Marseille a French city or a Mediterranean city?"
But how helpful is this question in understanding the identity of Marseille? In our other course, "Modern Mediterranean History," we spent a large chunk of time discussing the nature of what makes a cosmopolitan city, alternatively called a 'levantine' city. Would classifying Marseille as cosmopolitan be more all encompassing of its many different identities? A key characteristic of cosmopolitan or levanite cities is hybridity; meaning a blending of cultures, ethnicities, religions, etc. Marseille seems to be just this. In this exhibit, the hybridity of the city will be explored through three main sections. The first is "Mixed Cultural Identity" which looks at food, language and religion. The second "Tourist Town vs. Drug Town" is about the conflicting perception of Marseille as dangerous but also as a tourist attraction, especially since it is one of Europe's Capital of Cultures for 2013. The third, "Hybridity in Art" inspects how Marseille's mixed identity is represented differently in art and in art exhibits that are part of the Capital of Culture.