Montreal -- in Historical and Administrative Perspectives

1. Montreal --in Historicaland Administrative Perspectives The Battle of Quebec 1756-1763

2. Historical Perspectives • Two solitudes and St. Laurence Blvd. • the Quebec separatist movement • Cultural Activities • The Canvas of Time

3. Montreal’s City map and cityscapes Three major buildings: Churches, skyscrapers and triplexes or duplexes with steep stairways.

4. Two solitudes and St. Laurence Blvd. • Two Solitudes by Hugh MacLennan 1945 (e.g. Views from the Typewriter) • The French live in the east, the English, in the west, and the Portuguese, Italians, Greeks, Chinese, and Blacks in between. • (ref. Between the Solitudes—3,4) • Catholic church: major influence in politics until Quiet Revolution in 1960’s.

5. the Quebec separatist movement • 一八四○年：境內百分之六十為法語人口，但加拿大聯邦以英語為唯一官方語言。 • 1969 --Two official languages • 一九六○年：魁北克省政府進行「無聲革命」(Quiet Revolution)，接管許多教育及社會政策，結束天主教會掌控局面。 • 一九六七年：法國總統戴高樂在蒙特婁演說，高呼「魁北克自由萬歲」(vivre le Quebec libre)，成為魁省獨派人士的精神口號。 • 一九六八年：魁北克黨成立，以爭取魁北克脫離加拿大而獨立為職志。 • 一九七○年：爆發「十月危機」(October Crisis)，「魁北克解放陣線」(FLQ)策動 一連串恐怖事件，出身魁北克的杜魯道(Trudeau)總理派軍鎮壓，數百名同情民族主義人士被捕。 e.g. Black Sheep: Denys Arcand 7)

6. Two referendums • 一九八○年：勒維克提出「主權聯繫」計畫，主張魁北克為獨立國家， 但仍與加拿大維持密切關係，魁北克針對此計畫舉行公投(referendum)，反對者以百分之五十九得票率獲勝。 Themes of loss of passion and masculinity. • 一九九五 （e.g. Referendum/Take 28)

7. Montreal: Distinct Cultures • Outgoing and friendly: summer of festivals(fêtes), outdoor café. • “Montreal is a city that loves the summertime, yet also makes the most of winter. It is a city whose people enjoy participating in community events, are not afraid to try something new, and have a deep attachment to their Quebecois cultural heritage” (Sobol 85) Really open?

8. Montreal: Distinct Cultures • film and theatre tradition: • long theatrical tradition and experimentation (at least 10 major theatres now); e.g. cirque du soleil, Robert Lepage 9 - 11 • documentary (direct cinema or cinéma verité) or docudrama. • Eat, party and talk a lot. “le gang”

9. “The Canvas of Time” • from Montreal vu par (1991), made for the 350 anniversary of Montreal. • 1832, Jacque Viger the first mayor. • The years covered in the film: • 1850, 1880, 1912, 1940, 1967, 1992 • Why are these moments significant to Montreal? Why is Viger important? What does he symbolize? How is Viger looked at in different periods?

10. “The Canvas of Time”: Viger • Viger’s contribution: • Respect Truth: “Nothing is more important than truth.” • sanitation, census, history • called “the first mayor,”“a nun with mustache,” taken for one’s lover, father to be thrown out, geezer

11. “The Canvas of Time”: Setting • Pay attention to usage of the stage, and, as its backdrop, the painting, documentaries, historic photos, fire, firework as well as real humans. What do they mean? • Painting: A cherished portrait, can come alive, watch the census-taker, paint the sister, being thrown out, the painter’s “canvas” (while Viger appears as an actor in the studio.)

12. “The Canvas of Time”: Themes • What are the implications of "Nothing is more beautiful than truth"? • What is turned to nothingness? -- administrator’s efforts in keeping the order; -- history.

13. Administrative perspective: "The Street That Got Mislaid" • 1.How does Marc look at his filing job at City Hall? Why is he so proud of it while others may look at him as a "lowly clerk"? • 2.Why is the misplaced file a "dynamite" for Marc (pp. 66-67)? And later on when he visit the Green Bottle street, why is it considered by him a "grenade" (p. 69)? • 3.What are the symbolic meanings of the Green Bottle street?

14. Administrative perspective: "The Street That Got Mislaid" • Is it possible for the story to happen in real life? (What makes up a self-sufficient community?) • Is it possible for a missing person to remain incognito for all of his/her life? • identity checks: customs/immigration office, tax bureau, credit card, bank account, postal service, driver’s license, ID cards, social security/insurance card, electricity, water and medical services, etc.