Resistance and Revolution: May 1968 in France
The May 1968 demonstrations in France were a pivotal moment of social and political upheaval, characterized by widespread protests, strikes, and occupations. Sparked by student unrest at the University of Nanterre over issues like authoritarianism in education and broader societal inequalities, the protests quickly escalated. By May 3, clashes with police had erupted in Paris, leading to the occupation of the Sorbonne and a national wave of solidarity.
The movement expanded to include millions of striking workers, effectively paralyzing the French economy. Protesters demanded reforms in education, labor rights, and social justice, challenging traditional authority and advocating for greater freedom and equality. The slogan “Sous les pavés, la plage” ("Beneath the paving stones, the beach") captured the spirit of imagining a freer, more egalitarian society.
Amid this revolutionary climate, the Mouvement de Libération des Femmes (MLF) emerged, inspired by feminist currents and the broader struggle against oppression. Founded in the early 1970s, the MLF championed women's rights, focusing on issues like reproductive freedom, gender equality, and the fight against patriarchal structures. The legacy of May 1968 and the MLF continues to influence social movements advocating for resistance and liberation.
Paul Valéry Montpellier 3 University:
REVOLUTION IS A SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTION
Five young women discuss the education and heritage they have received from previous generations in terms of sexuality and the passage to adulthood, and decide to question them in order to invent their own form of resistance to this heritage.
To match the specifications of the RESISTANCE project, the artistic team began by working on the notion of memory and its relationship to history. By exploring in detail the unfolding of political and social movements during the period of May 1968, we extracted speeches and anecdotes which we felt could have repercussions in the contemporary situation and inspire equivalent movements today. At the same time, the young people, questioning the intimate and subjective memories of their family members, came up with interviews and ideas they wanted to stage. Then we discussed together what, in all these stories and texts, could inspire new forms of resistance.
Credits
Authors and performers: Ninon Cluzeau, Erwan Gourhant, Elsa Trehen, Pau Muller, Judith Hassine, Clara Rostaing, Tom Rudelle, Zoe Bouchacourt, Emma Naegel, Zoé Martin, Pauline Auzuret, Florine Pracht, Sandy Ghazarian, Agathe de Montety, Anton Mazas, Jennifer Nasrallaf, Héloise Kupfer, Anthony Galea, Liczenn Rivoallon, Diane Icardo, Perceval Belot, Lisel Adam, Aurélie Ducrocq, Théo Bressy, Adriana García Monge,
Artistic overview: Laurent Berger, Frédéric Cherboeuf
Production: Theatre and Performance Department, Montpellier 3 University, Dédramatisons Association
Credits
Authors and performers: Ninon Cluzeau, Erwan Gourhant, Elsa Trehen, Pau Muller, Judith Hassine, Clara Rostaing, Tom Rudelle, Zoe Bouchacourt, Emma Naegel, Zoé Martin, Pauline Auzuret, Florine Pracht, Sandy Ghazarian, Agathe de Montety, Anton Mazas, Jennifer Nasrallaf, Héloise Kupfer, Anthony Galea, Liczenn Rivoallon, Diane Icardo, Perceval Belot, Lisel Adam, Aurélie Ducrocq, Théo Bressy, Adriana García Monge,
Artistic overview: Laurent Berger, Frédéric Cherboeuf
Production: Theatre and Performance Department, Montpellier 3 University, Dédramatisons Association
