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There's something ironic and grotesquely funny about this

Comic character's McDonald's binge sparks Gallic outcry

A new McDonald's ad featuring Gallic champion Asterix enjoying a burger and fries has sparked outrage among French comic purists who see it as an insult to their national heritage.

The billboard shows the fearless Gaul and friends celebrating their traditional banquet at the fast-food chain -- with Cacofonix the bard tied to a tree outside as usual.

"My childhood hero sacrificed like a wild boar! What next? Tintin eating at Subway?" said one horrified blogger called sirchmallow.

"How ironic, the indomitable Gauls making an advert for the invaders," was another outraged comment on Twitter.

The ad is of three designed by advertising agency Euro RSCG for McDonald's' "Come as you are" campaign.

The others feature Cinderella pulling into a McDrive on a pumpkin, and the Ghostface character from the film "Scream" tucking into a Big Mac.

McDonald's has frequently been the focus of anti-American sentiment in France and is seen by many to symbolize the threat to French culture and cuisine posed by globalization and homogenized junk food.

In 1999, anti-globalization protesters led by Jose Bove dismantled a McDonald's restaurant in southwest France, dumping the rubble outside the local town hall.

Asterix, meanwhile, whose plucky adventures fighting the Roman invaders first appeared in print in 1959, is often regarded as an emblem of France's rebellious spirit.

Together with his jovial sidekick Obelix, he remains one of France's best-loved comic characters and his books have sold some 325 million copies worldwide.

This is not the first time, however, Asterix has succumbed to the forces of capitalism. In 2001, McDonald's signed him up to replace Ronald McDonald in its marketing campaign to tie in with the release of the film Asterix and Cleopatra.

"It's not that much of a shock. It's hardly the first time our Gauls have put money first," said one blogger.

Hmm. Wouldn't the modern French claim more descent from the Franks than from the Gauls? I'm sure they wouldn't complain if we described their ancestry as Merovingian or Carolinian.

Its the french, who gives a shit what they want.

Deepcrush wrote:Its the french, who gives a s**t what they want.

Excellent point.

Deepcrush wrote:Its the french, who gives a s**t what they want.

You, of course - how else do expect to prioritise what to deny them?

If they aren't breathing, they can't complain.

Mikey wrote:Hmm. Wouldn't the modern French claim more descent from the Franks than from the Gauls? I'm sure they wouldn't complain if we described their ancestry as Merovingian or Carolinian.

I doubt it, people tend to appropriate characteristics of any people that came across their territories in the past. As an example, the Dutch used to idolize the Batavi, even though they didn't have the slightest clue where they went after the Roman records stopped mentioning them.

Besides, comics are big business in France and Belgium, sometimes in sofar that people may consider the comic book version of history to be more accurate than actual history books due to overexposure.

Just look at them sternly. They'll surrender.

shran wrote:

Mikey wrote:Hmm. Wouldn't the modern French claim more descent from the Franks than from the Gauls? I'm sure they wouldn't complain if we described their ancestry as Merovingian or Carolinian.

I doubt it, people tend to appropriate characteristics of any people that came across their territories in the past. As an example, the Dutch used to idolize the Batavi, even though they didn't have the slightest clue where they went after the Roman records stopped mentioning them.

Besides, comics are big business in France and Belgium, sometimes in sofar that people may consider the comic book version of history to be more accurate than actual history books due to overexposure.

Odd. Maybe it's because we're a younger nation and comprise admixtures of so many disparate groups, but I doubt anyone from the U.S. identifying their descent with a Native American nation (unless they are actually descended from such.)

Mikey wrote:Odd. Maybe it's because we're a younger nation and comprise admixtures of so many disparate groups, but I doubt anyone from the U.S. identifying their descent with a Native American nation (unless they are actually descended from such.)

We're much the same as the French in this case - we tend to look upon ourselves as the successors to the same bunch who fought Caesar and Claudius, despite being of largely Saxon and Viking descent.

Captain Seafort wrote:We're much the same as the French in this case - we tend to look upon ourselves as the successors to the same bunch who fought Caesar and Claudius, despite being of largely Saxon and Viking descent.

In other words, you tend to look upon yourselves as the successors to the same bunch who you marginalized, oppressed, and displaced?

Captain Seafort wrote:

Mikey wrote:Odd. Maybe it's because we're a younger nation and comprise admixtures of so many disparate groups, but I doubt anyone from the U.S. identifying their descent with a Native American nation (unless they are actually descended from such.)

We're much the same as the French in this case - we tend to look upon ourselves as the successors to the same bunch who fought Caesar and Claudius, despite being of largely Saxon and Viking descent.

Does the BNP know this?

Mark wrote:Just look at them sternly. They'll surrender.

*Glares*