Introduction générale Il était une fois la Révolution

From its origins through modern time, the historical event that is the French Revolution has inspired art, as well as rituals, symbols and popular practices the world round. These Revolution-inspired manifestations flourished outside of the official politics of memory, and grew into what can be seen as a subversive way to envision this “myth” that is the Revolution. Far from comparing the construction of a myth to the creation of a critical historiography, this work explores the different geneses of the mythologies that originated with the French Revolution. In today’s world, republican values at the heart of any popular uprising are both stigmatized and glorified, resulting in a contradictory social dynamic. This introduction aims at furthering the dialogue started by the ever growing field of historiography.