Sunday, April 15, 2012

Les zizis de Paris

The moment I happened upon the book Les Zizis de Paris, several years ago, I was smitten.  Not because of the subject per se (though what's not to love?!), but because I delighted in imagining a similar book in an Anglo-Saxon museum bookshop.  Maybe there is one and I just don't know about it, but I'm not holding my breath.  As a culture, I think, we Americans in general are just more disposed to be prudish/woo-hoo about such matters, as opposed to dealing with the subject matter with an appreciative nod and a wink.

Zizi is the French equivalent of wee-wee,  or weenie or what-have-you.  I find it quite adorable as a name for male parts.

I found this charming and entertaining photography book in a museum store of one of the museums of the city of Paris.  Not hidden hush-hush in a brown wrapper in a corner, but prominently displayed with other guides to Paris.  And indeed, it is a pictorial guide to male nude public statues.  What?  Oh yes, of course I bought it!

So, big deal.  It's Art.  No fig leaves.  It's France.  It's the human body.  Deal with it.  Enjoy it.

But I did get a chuckle out of the juxtaposition of the accompanying standard web language on the website for the book...


14 comments:

Virginia said...

Well merci. You've just taken care of many many Christmas and birthday gifts for me, and I'm getting one for myself as well. I love how the children in Paris don't bat an eye at the sight of a "zizi", in art of course!
V

Singularly Me said...

I saw this book! And I didn't buy it. :( Now I have a reason to return to Paris (as if I needed one!)

Jay Livingston said...

How could you doubt that there might be a similar American book? It has chapters on ZZ Top, ZZ Packer, et. al.

tonton_flaneur said...

The things one can find on the Internet..LOL!! I agree though..it is just a human body after all...

Anonymous said...

This will take care of my Christmas list and birthday list! Love those French!!!

Parisbreakfasts said...

I've always wondered about that word...
I saw so many kids books at the salon du livre that could never make it through US customs-witty, fun, funny
ce m'enerve

Polly-Vous Francais said...

Thinking of zizis, I remember all the flap about Maurice Sendak's illustrations (one page or 2) in In the Night Kitchen.

Anyway, this book is charming and I do recommend it. My copy is deep in storage somewhere with all my Paris books.

ParisInsider said...

You have such a good eye for the best details about Paris!

devis said...

It seems like a good Christmas gift for some one who is un bon vivant

Margaret said...

Enlarge! lol

devis said...

I like the last comment enlarge please.

isolation said...

I just laugh thinking about how someone wote this book lol

isolation bordeaux said...

This article makes me giggle every time I read it

leader motors maroc said...

Why in the world would someone write a book like that?

Locations of visitors to this page
Travel Blogs - Blog Catalog Blog Directory blog search directory Targeted Website Traffic - Webmasters helping webmasters develop high value relevant links. Promoting ethical web-marketing using the time trusted pillars of relevance and popularity.