by Ric Erickson

Number 1.36:- Metropole Paris - Monday, 28. October 1996:- An estimated 15 percent of French households have a computer, and of these, only about half are multimedia-capable.

All the same, France ranks ahead of Italy and Spain with connections to the Internet - but lags more than a bit behind nordic countries, such as Sweden with 19, Norway with 26 and Finland, with about 48 connections per thousand inhabitants - France is third from the last with five connections per thousand.

On the street, reading the magazines, at the expositions, one sees 'Internet' everywhere - so it is a bit shocking to learn that the number of residents actually active with either Internet connections, or as buyers of multimedia CD-ROMs, is a tiny fraction of the population as a whole.

The great misconception is, if you are 'in' it, then you are paying attention, reading the magazines, going to the expos. You are aware of the titles being pumped out by multimedia producers - you feel the excitement, you feel the enthusiasm.

The sad reality is that 'Jacques Publique' has a free Minitel from France Telecom and sees no need to put out at least 8,000 francs for a multimedia computer and another thousand for a modem; plus pay online charges to a provider and use-charges to the telephone monopoly.

None of this is really news. But lately there seems to be a growing awareness by people in the 'business' that something here is not 'clicking.' That something is the general public - and the insiders are now saying openly that it looks like there is a brickwall of resistance - that is now throwing a great deal of hard work and considerable investment into doubt.

Optimists say that the French will come around - eventually - but nobody is willing to predict today when that will be.

Why should anybody care other than the players directly involved? The French public is losing another battle to retain cultural identity. With each passing day, France loses ground in establishing its cultural identity as a major alternative to the domination of the Anglo-American cultural juggernaut that is rapidly spanning the globe by means of television, movies and worldwide online services. If there is no domestic audience, then there will soon be no domestic producers - and foreigners will move in to exploit - using their own languages - the cultural treasures of France - which are considerable.

In fact, this is what Metropole seems to do. But not quite, because Metropole is not produced for French consumption, because it would be redundant. Residents here have unlimited and direct access to all that is the Paris experience - Metropole's purpose is to share a small part of this experience with the rest of the world.

The Internet is like an open door to the world and Metropole is one of these doors that opens Paris to the world, on a - nearly! - real-time basis. Metropole tries to be an alternative to the official brochures and the normal guide books. I see French efforts to produce content about France, not as competitive, but as complementary to this publication - and for this reason, Metropole has a direct interest in seeing it become successful.

I am only half-joking when I suggest to all readers who have friends in France - to send them a multimedia-capable computer today. It could help a lot - to preserve French culture.

URL for France's Prime Minister: Premier Ministre http://www.premier-ministre.gouv.fr/

An Event: Theatre

The well-known French actor Victor Lanoux - who may not be so well-known outside of France - is currently on stage playing in Arthur Miller's 'Death of a Salesman.'

Mr Lanoux fell in love with movies as a 17- year-old studio assistant during the filming of 'Notre-Dame de Paris' with Anthony Quinn and Gina Lolobrigida and afterwards took an acting course by correspondence - 'what a fraud!' - as preparation for entering the conservatory. Since then he has played many roles on stage, but is perhaps better-known - by me - for his films.

I am sure he is doing very well as Willy Loman. Besides now having the age for the part, he is one of these sleepy-eyed actors who can suddenly explode in a way that doesn't seem at all like acting.

'Mort d'un Commis Voyageur' by Arthur Miller, adapted by Jean-Claude Grumberg and directed by Régis Santon.

Théâtre Silvia-Monfort, 106. Rue Brancion, Paris 15. Until 22 December, at 20:30 Tuesdays to Saturdays, at 17:00 on Sundays. Seats 100 and 130 francs. Reservations: tel.: 01 49 27 91 21.

Salon: Old Papers

The 42nd semi-annual edition of the salon for collectors of old paper - post cards, newspapers, stock certificates, old bills, bank-notes, books, etchings - is now running at the Espace Champerret.

There are 150 exhibitors who will be showing off their wares to ten of thousands of collectors and the curious from all over the world. Postcards that sold here for 450 francs ten years ago may be worth 5,000 francs today.

L'Espace Champerret, Paris 17. Métro Porte de Champerret, or closer, métro Louise Michel. The site is just to the west of the Périphérique. The salon is open daily from 11:00 to 19:00 until Sunday, 3. November. Access to the antiques salon included in entry fee of 45 francs. Information: tel.: 01 43 31 49 49.