Place de L'Odeon



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View of the Place de L'Odeon

Place de L'Odeon, Paris, France

The Place de L’Odeon is of stunning architecture, and recognized as a historical landmark in 1948(1). Created in 1779 with ease of access around the area in mind(2), it intersects between five streets; Ragnard Street, Crebillion Street, rue de l’Odeon, rue Casimir-Davaigne and Racine Street, making it a fairly busy place for vehicle as well as pedestrian traffic as a ‘hotspot’ for Parisians. Notable businesses in the area include Le Bar, Restaurant La Mediterranee, Luisa Maria, and the Au Petit Suisse café which can be seen from the google maps images above. All with great reviews, these businesses are prime locations for Parisians to eat and relax indicating the amount of traffic in the area. Amidst the various apartments, businesses, and parks surrounding the area is the Theatre de L’Odeon, which was very significant throughout the history of the area. Finished in 1818(3), the theater housed a plethora of famous works, actors, and directors including Jean-Louis Barrault(4). Barrault would have a significant role during the May 1968 Paris Uprisings that bring us to the Place de L’Odeon as one of the points of interest on the tour. (1)"Monuments Historiques." Accueil Ministère - Ministère de la Culture. July 08, 1993. Accessed November 24, 2017. http://www.culture.gouv.fr/public/mistral/merimee_fr?ACTION=CHERCHER&FIELD_1=REF&VALUE_1=PA00088656. (2) Ibid (3) " Monuments Historiques." Accueil Ministère - Ministère de la Culture. July 08, 1993. Accessed November 24, 2017. http://www.culture.gouv.fr/public/mistral/merimee_fr?ACTION=CHERCHER&FIELD_1=REF&VALUE_1=PA00088664. (4) Editors, Biography .com. "Jean-Louis Barrault." Biography.com. April 02, 2014. Accessed November 24, 2017. https://www.biography.com/people/jean-louis-barrault-9199946.

The Place de L'Odeon had a significant role in the May uprisings as well, as the statue of George Dalton was located in the rear of the Place de L'Odeon in the Carrefour L'Odeon and the protesting students of Sorbonne viewed this man as a symbol of revolutionary action against the government with Dalton heavily influencing the creation of the First French Republic in 1792[1]. Protesting students were inspired by Dalton and on May 15th, 1968 the students congregated in the area using a much more sophisticated means of social protesting including strikes and business takeovers that included the takeover of the Theatre de L'Odeon[2].

The Theatre de L'Odeon was owned and operated by Jean-Louis Barrault, an actor and director himself born in Le Vésinet, France, on September 8, 1910, he started a career in film in 1931[3]. His most notable performance came in 1944 as a mime Baptist for the film Les Enfants de Paridis where he was awarded the International Acclaim[4]. Barrault and his wife started their own theater group which eventually was funded by the government, which then gave him the financial support to move his group to the Theatre de L'Odeon. In 1968 during the uprising Berrault would make the biggest mistake of his career, as he actually decided to let the students in to use the facilities[5], for reasons one might infer from the fear of violence against him, as the students wanted to use the theater for psychological purposes against the Parisians[6]. The students hung various slogans across the building, one of which can be seen in the pictures above stating "L'Odeon is open!!!" indicating the student occupation. The French government was furious with Barrault's actions, as they took the theater from him and thus, all his financial backings gained from government support[7]. This goes to show the extent the French government was willing to go against the Parisians helping the protesters, even though Barrault was a famous French actor and director winning awards and being known for changing he history of French theater after World Ward Two, because he helped the protesters this was forgotten as the French government relentlessly tied to take his life away.

(1)George Lakey, Powerful Peacemaking: a strategy for a living revolution. 2nd ed. (Philadelphia, PA: New Society, 1987), 30-37.

[2] Ibid

[3] Editors, Biography .com. "Jean-Louis Barrault." Biography.com. April 02, 2014. Accessed November 24, 2017. https://www.biography.com/people/jean-louis-barrau....

[4] Ibid

[5] Ibid

[6] George Lakey, 30-37.

[7] Editors, Biography .com. "Jean-Louis Barrault." Biography.com. April 02, 2014. Accessed November 24, 2017. https://www.biography.com/people/jean-louis-barrau....

Bibliography

George Lakey, Powerful Peacemaking: a strategy for a living revolution. 2nd ed. (Philadelphia, PA: New Society, 1987)

Editors, Biography .com. "Jean-Louis Barrault." Biography.com. April 02, 2014. Accessed November 24, 2017. https://www.biography.com/people/jean-louis-barrau....

"Monuments Historiques." Accueil Ministère - Ministère de la Culture. July 08, 1993. Accessed November 24, 2017. http://www.culture.gouv.fr/public/mistral/merimee_....

"Monuments Historiques." Accueil Ministère - Ministère de la Culture. July 08, 1993. Accessed November 24, 2017. http://www.culture.gouv.fr/public/mistral/merimee_....

Editors, Biography .com. "Jean-Louis Barrault." Biography.com. April 02, 2014. Accessed November 24, 2017. https://www.biography.com/people/jean-louis-barrau....

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