Our selection of tests for summer

The Mirror of the Belle Epoque – Our selection tests summer

DWhat are the French afraid? However, After having searched the archives of the press of the Belle Époque. Consequently, Arnaud-Dominique Houte exhumes the anxieties which irrigate the end of the XIX^e century. In addition, The press, in full explosion, water the public with various facts, our selection tests summer dramas, disasters. Furthermore, The anarchist attacks, the crimes of the apaches, the fear of the car, the machine in general, haunt the spirits. Therefore, We believed the beautiful golden era as a novel by Marcel Proust.

At no time does the historian try to do the counter-history of the period. Therefore, but he hands us a mirror: these fears, at the dawn of the murderer First World War, strangely resonate with ours. However, And this world which already seemed to be accelerating to the rhythm of frantic technical progress. However, while international news threatened to ignite the century. Consequently, This fear was, certainly, excessive, but not irrational. Consequently, Is the one that crosses us today more? In addition, § JL C.

“The reverse of the Belle Epoque. Crimes, attacks, disasters and other perils. 1889-1914 »from Arnaud-Dominique Houte (reissue, text, 320 p., € 10.50).

For a “normal” Russian art – Our selection tests summer

After the invasion our selection tests summer of Ukraine in February 2022, Russian culture found itself accused, even banned. Absurd confusion between the abuses of a regime and the nobility of a virgin heritage of any political involvement? Not so simple, Nuance Victoire Feuillebois, specialist in the history of literature in the XIX^e century. In a disturbing essay, the academic recalls the disproportionate place devolved, in Russia, to artistic creation. The authors are animated by an existential ambition and an overflowing commitment to politics … for better and for worse. The essayist then pleads for a normalization of Russian art, halfway between trivialization and idealization. A subtle reflection, which strengthens rather than weaken our curiosity for the masterpieces of this literature. S. D.

“Should Pushkin burn?” »»de Victoire Leafois (CNRS Éditions, 180 p., € 18).

Children of chance

Robert Sapolsky, professor at Stanford, is as great neuroendocrinologist as he is a brilliant scientific popularizer. In determinism. A our selection tests summer science of free -referee life. Here he refutes the comforting idea that we would be the sovereign authors of our decisions. While, according to him, all behavior is only the product of an uninterrupted chain of biological, genetic and environmental causes.

With the help of a multitude of data. Sapolski unblocks myths, then is a philosopher and explores what our collective morality would become if we took this total absence of free will: more avenging punishment, more convenient moral judgments and, perhaps, a little more lucidity. This work is not a pamphlet against the illusion of freedom. but a real and fascinating invitation to rethink responsibility, justice and compassion. Peggy tailor

“Determinism. A science of free -referee -free life ”by Robert Sapolsky, translated from English (United States) by Éric Loonis (Arpa, 582 p., € 26.90).

Manhattan transfert

In Long Live Sex. the City, Audrey Haensler devotes himself to a dismantling our selection tests summer in good standing of this television catechism where four New Yorkers align sex toys, pseudo-feminist soliloques and consumerist frenzy, all made up in cultural revolution. As a good teacher of conferences in American civilization at Bourgogne Europe university in Dijon. it stipulates that if Sex and the City Pulverized a few taboos, it is above all to better sink his heroines into a neoliberal ideology disguised as emancipation.

To discover The kangaroo of the day Answer According to Haensler. the series claims to be progressive, but recycles the cliché of the hysterical in search of the marital grail. She pretends to celebrate female friendship while reducing men to accessories. Fashion? A Trojan horse to sell us the fable according to which the liberation goes through an Amex and the Louboutin. Convincing … but we want to remind the our selection tests summer author that this entertainment was also. above all a mine of easy conversation subjects for real dinners with friends, and an authentic source of joy that we remember with tenderness of years later. P. S.

“Long live sex and the city. Inheritances of the cult series “20 €).