The March of Time - Progress or No?

[John Talbott]

Question: The title of this thread mixes a few references and metaphors but the title belies several serious questions, I believe. Specifically, is what we’ve experienced on one minor market street in Paris over the past two decades reflective of broader changes?; is it progress or not?; and why the deuce do we need more frilly female things and trendy eyeglasses at the expense of artisinal food shops?

Data: As best I can recall (not always an exact science, mind you), there used to be five green grocers, five regular butchers, three horsemeat stores, two coffee roasters, two fish mongers, one bagel shop, one cremerie, one store selling products from the Auvergne and a coal shop. Two of the green grocers and one each of the regular butchers, horsemeat guys, coffee roasters and fish mongers are gone and well as the coal shop, bagel shop, cremerie and store selling products from the Auvergne. However, we now have three Chinese, two Italian and one Greek-Cypriot takeout places as well as several new bra and panty stores, two new wine shops, another eyeglasserie, a FNAC photoshop, a “bio” store, a luxury chocolate store, another flower store and a new bakery.

Options: Putting the best face on it, we’ve had some mergers and acquisitions which reduce the overlap; we have more takeout for the working two-careerers; and we’re more international and biological. Putting a pessimistic spin on it, however, we’re going from beau-beau to Bobo; artisinal to industrial; and simple to fashionable.

Conclusion: The glass is either half-full or half-empty.