Individual
Behavior and Social Interaction in Rue Mouffetard, Paris
by :
Nararya Narottama
Introduction
In
geographical scope, space is a vital tourism resource, because
essentially the space is the place where there are the diversity of
nature, men and all men-made creation (Maryani, 2010). One of the
space mentioned is Rue Mouffetard, a touristic area in the City of
Paris. An old narrow streets, which have the same functionality of
earlier times, as a place to live, shop, eat and meet each other and
interact. Who later became one of the tourist attractions in Paris
Mrs.
Maryani (2010) stated that in essence, tourism is a necessity of
human instincts, because people always have the interest to know
something (sense of interest), have the urge to want to know (sense
of curiousity), see the reality (a sense of reality), find (sense of
discovery) and investigate (a sense of inquiry). In his book, Pearce
(1995:1) defines tourism (tourism) as a relationship phenomenon
caused by the presence of the people who travel and stay for a while
at a destination with the primary purpose for leisure or recreation.
Tourism
in Rue Mouffetard
Rue
Mouffetard is a street in 5th arrondissement in Paris, France.
Connecting the Place de La Contrescape, up to L'Eglise Saint Medard
in the south. By walking for few minutes, you can reach the Pantheon
Sorbonne, Boulevard Saint Michelle and the Boulevard Saint-Germain.
This area can be reached by metro transportation access (line 7), at
station Place Monge or Censier-Doubenton.
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The
street is old but very colorful, with hundred years old houses.
Recently, there are many restaurants, shops and cafes. Normally, this
street was closed for most cars and used as a pedestrian street. Rue
Mouffetard is a touristic market in the street, particularly at
night.. Because of it's charms, this road is able to attract many
young people and tourists.
Rue
Moufftard is the path of the old stones of Roman relics. Some
buildings even from the 12th century, and most of it have a long
history and representing the history of Paris. In summer, Rue
Mouffetard visited by many tourists, and on Sundays are often held
dance and music events. Usually the event is held in the south area
of L'Eglise Saint Medard
Old Rue
Mouffetard (old-hemingwaysparis.blogspot.com, 2011)
Even
if it is dominated by restaurants and fast food, there are
supermarkets, pharmacies, butchers, fishmongers, cheese shops,
bakeries, wine shops, grocers and also a cinema. There are also
several apartments, hotels and libraries.
Mouffetard
market is also famous as the best traditional markets with French
fresh products. And also one of the trade route since the 19th
century. One boutique called La Bonne Source claimed that they had
been there since 1522. To analyze tourism in Rue Mouffetard, we can
use several concepts of geography:
- Locations, to answer where the phenomena and events happened, and why it's there, not anywhere else. In addition there is a causal relationship analysis that affect the existence or continuation of a phenomenon and event.
- Place, is the physical and people character who live in it, attached to the existence of a region so that become the brand of place, can not be separated, specific and unique
- Relations, is the relationship between the physical components (physical system), physical and man (physical and men system) and between the components of the human (social system) that interact with each other, built relationships, and inter-dependencies with the form of terrestrial systems (man- earth system)
- Mobility, is the expression of the interaction, manifested from the transport and communication, so as to create a global system
- Regionalization, a functionally use zoning land. Reflected by the development of tourist areas and tourist destinations.
`In
addition to the concept above, it can also using the approach of
spatial analysis, spatial context, spatial pattern and spatial
procsess. It should also be noted about the carrying capacity of
environment for the preservation and tourist satisfaction.
Social
Conflict
The
Mediation Center of Texas, in McCollum (2009) defines conflict as a
behavior where a person against one another in the mind, feelings,
and deeds. Conflict can be a dangerous and violent. Instead, James
Schllenberg (1996) in McCollum (2009) states that conflict is part of
the form of community that we must cherish, which is able to
stimulate new thinking, promoting social change, defining our
relationship group, helping us in personal identity, and many more
are can take in life, something we love even someone we despised,
shaped by social conflict.
Rue
Mouffetard, although it is well known for it's tourist atmosphere, it
also has some problems and conflict. We interviewed few people who do
the activity in Rue Mouffetard, such as merchants, tourists, and
residents. We ask the views of conflict exist.
The
first interview with the merchants of fruits and vegetables, he said
that rental costs are more expensive compared to other locations. But
for him it's normal. Because, Rue Mouffetard is famous and well
known. The majority of the consumer are living in this area. With
sales going well.
The
second interview with a seller of cheese. He said the problems with
the SDF (homeless), who beg in front of his shop. Sometimes he called
the police. But for him, the biggest problem is the cost of renting
is expensive. The same problem today. The third interview, we ask the
butcher. For him, there is no important problem. The fourth interview
with a couple looking to the fruit stall. The woman tells us that the
atmosphere of this street does not change since last 10 years. It's
just more restaurants than before. But she still loves it, and no
problem for her.
Interview
with Jean Didier Urbain, one of the occupants in the Rue Mouffetrad,
a sosiologue francais. He said that this road already exists in the
Roman era. Now, the existing population has changed, more
residentialysed. In 1990, Rue Mouffetard is a slum. Authenticity is
constantly changing, yet always there.
There
are American citizens who owns property in Rue Mouffetard, because
they are interested to read one novel from American writer, Ernest
Hemingway «A Moveable Feast». Hemingway spent the period of his
life on Rue Mouffetard
Individual
Behavior and Social Interaction
On
Sunday evening, I visited the Rue Mouffetard. Intends to see the
atmosphere of Rue Mouffetard at night. When I arrived there, at
around 19h30 (7.30pm), with drizzling rain. Rue Mouffetard is usually
always crowded by various activities touristique with various shops
in both sides of the road, the ambiance in this Sunday night seems
more quiet, many stores closed. Most of the activity was in the
restaurant.
When
I got there, I saw the lights of Christmas decorations on the Rue
Mouffetard. From the north end of the rue Mouffetard (Rue Descartes)
up at the south end. These decoration of lights makes this street
look more vibrant and beautiful
Christmas
Lights and Decorations (Narottama, 2010)
Long
line of costumers appeared in front of restaurant called Au P'etit
Grec, the restaurant provides various food such as crepes, salads,
etc.. Cold weather and drizzling rain seemed to increase everyone's
appetite. Across the street, I saw an old couple walking together
while carrying an umbrella. Looks like they lived around here. Near
them, a family, carrying a small child and a toddler in a stroller.
Despite the cold weather and rain, some people chat on the
restaurant's terrace, while drinking and dining. And in the next
restaurant, an employee waiting for guests.
In
the restaurant Chez Nicos, seems a rather odd thing. When many people
are still queuing for food, one of the employees / chefs were talking
via cellular phone. This makes some customers put a grumpy face,
because of delays that occurred. Until finally one of them
reprimanding employees concerned. On the other hand, some people are
doing window shopping, which they saw the goods through a shop's
window. Although many of the stores were closed.
At
the junction of rue Mouffetard and rue Blainville, is a small park
with a decorative fountain in it. Around the park, several
restaurants and bars stay open, and many people seems to spend their
night there to chat with friends, family and their lovers. The trees
in the park were decorated with Christmas lights as well.
Commercial
activity appears to be more done on the Rue Mouffetard, compared with
a more quiet Rue Descartes. At a souvenir shop, which sells a variety
of merchandise about Paris, few tourists looking around, seeing
things through a shop's window. Both day and night, Rue meouffetard
closed to vehicles. A bar with no entry sign mounted in the middle.
But the ban is not meant for someone who was suddenly brought his
motorcycle in the street.
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Interactions
in restaurant « Au P'tit Grec » (Narottama, 2011)
Inside
a Chinese restaurant, I observed how human behavior is in it. After
serving the guests, waiters seemed to talk on the phone, at a table,
there is an Asian teen who was watching cartoons in front of the
laptop. And a customer who was sitting in front of me works on
documents on his desk. There was no communication between them,
unless associated with ordering and payment of food.
When
I continue my trip, I heard the voice of melodious music. It appears
a man was playing the violin, accompanied by music from a small radio
tape. Though a bit lonely, cold and many shops are closed, the music
is melodious with full of appreciation. In front of him, the people
passing by below drizzle rain. At the end of the street, was quiet
and deserted. Near the church, there are two homeless men who were
chatting. Near them is a supermarket's troley full of various items.
Sights
during the day seem a little different, in junction, a large truck
were unloading the goods, then taken to a shop that sells a variety
of food bio materials. There also an old man with a wheelchair, I saw
him several times sat in the same place, in front of the same store,
and do not hesitate to greet passers-by. When I and my friends
discussing, there is a beggar who keeps trying to ask for money,
although in fact he was not old, quite healthy and able to work.
Later,
our group headed for librarie at the south end of Rue Mouffetard.
There we tried to find research material about this road. We talked
with Antoine, the manager of this librarie. After a few minutes, he
showed a book entitled "Memoire Des Rues, Paris 5e
arrondissement 1900-1940», written by Anna Radwan. Few pages on this
book, described about old Rue Mouffetard.
Protection
Motive
Until
today, many old buildings still stand firmly on the Rue Mouffetard.
And there is awareness to preserve and maintain these buildings. One
of the popular tourist attraction in the city of Paris. In this case,
there are various efforts to maintain these buildings. One Aspect can
be seen related with romantic ideals of the past history, and the
city government issued various regulations related to protection of
these buildings. And on the other hand, there are elements of a
rational and logical economic interests. Paris is a very popular
tourist destination, where the presence of old buildings beautify it,
and became one of its appeal. If we look closely, there are a modern
mindsets associated with the efficiency, effectiveness and
economically.
Interestingly,
although the Rue Mouffetard is a popular tourist attraction, I don't
see any «visual trash». Visual trash is a term in the social
sciences, studies against the mass media as a symbol of capitalism.
That which includes advertising, promotions, banners, posters and
others, refer to the various items or things that are offered, but
has no benefit for most people.
Conclusion
The
study of consumer behavior focuses on how individuals make decisions
to spends available/owned resources (time, money, effort) on the
things that are consumption related (Sciffman and Kanuk, 1997) As a
space, rue Mouffetard is the place of social interactions.
In
the book «Sociology 1» (2003:22-23), Maryati and Suryawati states
that social interaction is a contact or reciprocity or
inter-stimulation and responses between individuals, between groups
or between individuals and groups. From that sense, social
interaction can be divided into three kinds:
- Interactions between Individuals: Can be positive or negative interactions, mutually beneficial or detrimental to either party or both.
- Interactions between individuals and groups: Interactions that appear to be positive or negative, depending on the circumstances.
- Interactions between groups: occurs as a unit, usually not on the personal will of.
Interactions
that occur may include contacts, reactions, relationships and
communication. In addition, the number of the actor more than one
person, has the intent and purposes, in particular social system
frame. With a long history, Rue Mouffetard prove it's existance.
Paris,
24 December 2011
Nararya
Narotama
References
- Maryani, Enok. 2010 « Dimensi Geografi Dalam Kepariwisataan Dan Relevansinya Dengan Dunia Pendidikan » Pidato Pengukuhan Guru Besar Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia
- Maryati, Kun. dan Juju Suryawati. 2003. "Sosiologi 1".Jakarta: Esis
- McCollum, Sean. 2009."Character Education: Managing Conflict Resolution". New York: Infobase Publishing
- Pearce, Douglas, G. 1995. Tourism Today a Geographical Analysis. England : Longman
- Schhiffman J.B and Kanuk Lealie Lazar (1997) Consumer Behavior published by Prentice Hall Sixth edition
- http://jurnal-sdm.blogspot.com/2009/05/interaksi-sosial-definisi-bentuk-ciri.html
- http://kolomsosiologi.blogspot.com/2011/06/malioboro-dulu-dan-sekarang-menilisik.html
- http://sangikankecil.blogspot.com/2011/12/konflik-spatial-antara-masyarakat-lokal.html
- www.old-hemingwaysparis.blogspot.com
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