Tag Archives: Paris

A Berkeley Girl Looks Back

Posted on May 10, 2018 by elisefrancesmiller

Fifty years ago this month, the May Revolution began in Paris and spread throughout France. The population of France was just over 50 million, and 10 million workers went out on strike. Imagine if today, out of 327 million Americans, … Continue reading →

Posted in 1968, current-events, literature, Protests today and in 1968, Reading groups | Tagged 1968, 1968 history, 1968 May Revolution, activism, literature, Paris, protest, sexual revolution, student protest, The Berkeley Girl | Leave a comment

How The Berkeley Girl series isn’t “chick lit” – stories for men, too?

Posted on December 2, 2017 by elisefrancesmiller

I’m aware and concerned that very few men will want to read a book entitled “The Berkeley Girl.” And why should they? How can you, who are my female readers from three generations, place it into the hands of the … Continue reading →

Posted in 1968, 60s stereotypes, activism today, anti-war protest, literature for men, novels for men, Uncategorized, Vietnam War veterans, Writing fiction | Tagged 1968 history, 1968 May Revolution, 60s stereotypes, activism, Berkeley, historical fiction, literature, novels for men, Paris, political action, protest, sexual revolution, The Berkeley Girl, Vietnam veterans | 1 Comment

My Confessions from the Summer of Love

Posted on June 21, 2017 by elisefrancesmiller

During the Summer of Love I was in Berkeley—not in San Francisco. Recently, listening to a PBS special on the Beatles’ masterpiece, “Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band,” brought me back, as only music can do.* The Beatles and their … Continue reading →

Posted in Arts and society, Music and society, Summer of Love 1967, Uncategorized | Tagged 1960s, activism, Arts and society, music appreciation, Paris, San Francisco, sexual revolution, Summer of Love, The Berkeley Girl | 6 Comments

Perspective on yesterday’s Women’s March from 49 years ago

Posted on January 22, 2017 by elisefrancesmiller

When Jay and I, with our friends Mary and Stu, joined 100,000 Bay Area protestors yesterday at Civic Center, I was struck by how similar the rally and Women’s March were to events I witnessed in Paris nearly 49 years … Continue reading →

Posted in activism today, Protests today and in 1968 | Tagged 1968 history, 1968 May Revolution, activism, current-events, Paris, politics, protest, The Berkeley Girl | 1 Comment

Music Stirs Public Movements and Special Private Moments

Posted on September 23, 2016 by elisefrancesmiller

Does music play the same role as the visual arts or literature in inspiring social or political action? Listen to “Do You Hear The People Sing” from Les Miserables [press “Skip Ad”!]. We can barely hear the lyrics, but as … Continue reading →

Posted in activism today, arts inspiring activism, Music and society | Tagged 1968 May Revolution, activism, music, music appreciation, Paris, politics, protest, writing process | Leave a comment

The Radical View – How Art’s Possibilities Changed America (reprise)

Posted on September 9, 2016 by elisefrancesmiller

[Note: The following is excerpted and updated from my Nov. 2012 blog of the same title–one followed by more readers than any other that year. Please read on to find out why I was inspired to repeat this subject by … Continue reading →

Posted in Arts and society, arts inspiring activism | Tagged 1968 history, activism, art history, Arts and society, Danny Lyon, historical novel, literature, Paris, protest, The Berkeley Girl in Paris | Leave a comment

Transitions

Posted on July 13, 2016 by elisefrancesmiller

Welcome to my new combined website and blog! For years these two have lived at two separate addresses, and the two dwellings felt disconcertingly like the workplace and “home.” Now the two are one, the url/address is one, and I … Continue reading →

Posted in About the blogs, Writing fiction | Tagged 1968, Berkeley, Blogs, fiction, Paris, politics, Writing, writing process | 7 Comments

Free speech in France – today and yesterday

Posted on January 13, 2015 by elisefrancesmiller

A VIDEO OF THE PICTURES AND WORDS OF PETER TURNLEY: http://edition.cnn.com/videos/world/2015/01/12/cnni-holmes-intv-turnley-images-of-paris.cnn-peter-turnley Please watch this amazing (and quick) video! There is not much more that I can add to the emotional video recording by photographer Peter Turnley, whose images of Paris … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged 1968 May Revolution, 2015, demonstrations, France, free speech, Paris, protests | Leave a comment

Organization Predicts Outcome – Paris, 1968 compared to OWS, 2011-2012

Posted on July 6, 2012 by elisefrancesmiller

Does it make any difference if a populist movement is planned or rises spontaneously? What do the origins and structure of the Occupy Movement tell us about its potential for success – when compared to the 1968 May Revolution in … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged 1968, May Revolution, occupy-wall-street, open democracy, organizational structure, Paris, politics, populist movement | Leave a comment

Spreading Pain or Catharsis? Perils of Turning My Own Era into Fiction

Posted on June 22, 2012 by elisefrancesmiller

Given the exhilaration of the past week, it is easy to forget certain painful realities. Readers of my historical novel, A Time to Cast Away Stones, set in Berkeley and Paris in 1968, might be forced to relive sorrows and … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged 1968, Berkeley, historical fiction, history, literature, Occupy, Paris, politics, student protest | Leave a comment