Why we think the France is a Type 4 culture

• French fashion. The French take their fashion incredibly seriously. It is an identity for them. The emphasis in French fashion is on style, elegance, individual expression, beauty, and uniqueness.

• French cuisine. Like fashion, cuisine is a core part of the French identity. The artistry and innovation in French cuisine reflect the desire for depth, complexity, and authenticity in experiences.

• Cafe culture. It's not strange for someone to sit all day in a cafe absorbing themselves deeply in their cafe-au-lait and patisserie, conversation, and a book. There's a sense of "this is what deeply and authentically matters in life!" Everything else can wait.

• French cinema. French cinema is renowned for its emotional depth and introspective, existential themes. It is also pioneering, especially with the Nouvelle Vague movement, which revolutionized both French and world cinema. Key figures of this movement include Godard, Truffaut, Chabrol, Rohmer, and Rivette, with Godard often considered the founding father.

• Romanticism. France's historical association with the Romantic movement in art and literature had an outsized influence, emphasizing emotion and individualism.

• Music. The French take their music seriously, especially music that emphasizes personal expression, emotional depth, and lyrical poetry.

• Trying to be deeply philosophical. It’s not a coincidence that the existentialists made the most waves in France, especially Sartre. Camus came out of that existentialist culture. The existentialists promote the idea that the deepest meaning is meaninglessness. They get us in touch with the grim reality that the material world doesn’t have meaning.

• Architecture. In France, everything has to be exceedingly sophisticated, refined, and artistic. It’s a beauty-obsessed place. The buildings are all like monuments. The parks are all gorgeously maintained. There are so many pretty places all over because that's where the energy goes.