Why is “Emily in Paris” So Delightfully Problematic?

Disclaimer: this is an opinion-based article

 

If you’re an avid Netflix watcher then you have definitely stumbled upon the new series “Emily in Paris”, a show which depicts marketing executive Emily Cooper, the main character, and her experience moving to Paris to work at a marketing firm. This clearly falls into the common stereotypical media where an American has whisked away to a new country and has to learn how to adjust. These movies are what I like to call delightfully problematic. They give us a comedic approach towards culture without actually recognizing and properly representing the cultures they depict. They provide a stereotypical paradise and ignore all the room they have to actually educate viewers towards what that culture actually looks like.

This type of media is almost always considered comedy because it has to find a loophole out of the inappropriate or disrespectful jokes they present towards the culture portrayed in the show. They also always include an ignorant American who is unwilling to learn the language and often critical of the culture they are brought into with no intent to accept or learn from it. However, as I continued to watch this delightfully problematic series I realized it was different. They mean for the main character to come off as ignorant so that they can build the show into the delightful getaway it is.

Emily not only takes her marketing career to the next level, but she also befriends locals and positions herself to grow as an individual. What started as a commonly told story develops into a complex take on a modern woman traveling to another country. She tackles culture, relationship, and job development with a go-to attitude only breaking her positivity in moments of complete sadness.

Additionally, this show tackles the struggles of international business relations, and the organizational culture struggles that businesses face when interacting with each other. Globalization has led to a rise in international development and as rights for women increase they continue to earn roles that place them in different countries. Show creators emphasize Emily’s love for work and her committed work ethic in the first two episodes, this work ethic helps her understand the Paris culture similarly when she is trying to develop the company and a relationship with her boss. 

Emily goes to Paris without knowing any bit of French, she faces culture shock and stigmas present in a culture different from hers. She also represents the rise of social media in the business realm while also giving the modern woman a new sense of empowerment meant. The issue comes within the demonization of what is “different” in French culture, making American culture seem superior to others. This show combats this issue however making more of a delight than a problem, her character develops into a more appreciative, inspired, and independent woman focused on her goals and learning to love the differences between herself and the culture she is being introduced to. On the other hand, as a french speaker, I don’t appreciate the diminishment of the beautiful language as the show continues, it seems less like she is in Paris and more like she is in a majority English speaking country. This show is, in my book, U.S-centric and if you want to watch a show about Paris, pick something else.

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