Rachel Félix: Jewish Actress and Icon of 1848 France

What values did the image of Rachel Félix embody, and how did her representation challenge or contrast with long-standing European stereotypes of Jewish bodies as “other”?

Nearly two centuries after Rachel Félix, Axelle Saint-Cirel—a soprano of Afro-Caribbean heritage—performed La Marseillaise to great acclaim. What visions of France do these two images put forward?

Choose a contemporary piece of art (a play, TV show, song, etc.) and reflect on how cultural production can assert the belonging of a minority group and contribute to a more inclusive society.