Postwar France: Empire, Consumer Culture, & the Politics of Everyday Life

In conjunction with Cuteness, Conservatism, & Consumption: Lefor-Openo and Postwar France, historian Gregory Valdespino will discuss the political landscape of France following World War II. As the country embraced colorful advertising, new consumer products, and modern design, it also grappled with the end of its colonial empire alongside unprecedented economic growth, raising profound questions about what it meant to be French. 

Through posters and other examples of popular culture, Gregory will examine how politics, economics and everyday life became deeply connected during this period, offering new perspectives on the world reflected in our exhibition.

Please note: Museum doors for this program will open at 6:15pm. If you’d like to explore the galleries before the event, we encourage you to arrive during regular museum hours.

Your ticket to the talk does not include general museum admission before the program. Please visit our website for current admission pricing and information.

Gregory Valdespino is a historian of modern Africa and Europe whose research focuses on the history of the Francophone world, colonialism, urbanization, migration, and everyday life. His work explores how political and social change have shaped ideas of home, consumption, and identity across France and West Africa. A native New Yorker, Greg is currently transitioning to a tenure-track position at Fordham University in. He earned his PhD in History from the University of Chicago, and his writing has appeared in The Journal of Urban History, French Colonial History, and Jacobin.