MercyA Posted June 22, 2014 Share Posted June 22, 2014 I was flipping through a Birthday Express catalog and came across this party theme, right between the "Hello Kitty" and "Pink Mod Monkey" parties: Let Them Eat Cake: “Our Let Them Eat Cake party supplies are cute, elegant and overflowing with French style and sophistication. Historically beautiful." In addition to "Let Them Eat Cake" plates and stickers, you can also purchase a Marie Antoinette costume and what looks like a Marie Antoinette piñata (!). Because nothing says "let's party" like starving peasants. :rolleyes: Putting aside the fact that Marie Antoinette probably never said any such thing, what do you think? Is this a tacky party theme for little girls? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellie Posted June 22, 2014 Share Posted June 22, 2014 Really? Tacky. Way to trivialize a tragic time in history. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marbel Posted June 22, 2014 Share Posted June 22, 2014 Y'all should check out the link and look at the birthday girl. The people who came up with that must be seriously uneducated in history. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kathryn Posted June 22, 2014 Share Posted June 22, 2014 Outside of the tackiness, I can't imagine any small child picking that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alessandra Posted June 22, 2014 Share Posted June 22, 2014 Way beyond tacky. But I would be interested in seeing what Disney would do to make a princess movie out of Marie Antoinette's life.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marbel Posted June 22, 2014 Share Posted June 22, 2014 It does not strike me as worse as a pirate themed party. Pirates are criminals. So kids pretend to be criminals and celebrate that as a party theme? I I see what you mean. I don't know, though...I think "pirate" is more general. Not celebrating one specific bad pirate. I think my daughter would have liked the colors and patterns on the plates and decorations. I actually think the colors and designs are pretty... it could be nice as a general princess theme party. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThisIsTheDay Posted June 22, 2014 Share Posted June 22, 2014 I don't watch Honey Boo Boo, but in my imagination, she'd have a bday party like this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clarkacademy Posted June 22, 2014 Share Posted June 22, 2014 I think the decorations would be way prettier if they took off the le them eat cake slogan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unsinkable Posted June 22, 2014 Share Posted June 22, 2014 Really? Tacky. Way to trivialize a tragic time in history. :iagree: Add this party theme and the Titanic inflatable slide to the "NOPE" pile. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LostSurprise Posted June 22, 2014 Share Posted June 22, 2014 That's weird. My first thought was that it would be a party with a lot of different types of cake. A crazy cake-tasting party...but a Marie Antoinette party for children? That's a bit odd. I suppose they're thinking of the romanticism of Versailles and French fashion and food of the time...just like people think of pirates romantically. In that case, just the title is tacky. Stop trying to connect Marie Antoinette to the bday party. That line reminds people that she was executed which is NOT the best party theme for kids. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miss Peregrine Posted June 22, 2014 Share Posted June 22, 2014 :iagree: Add this party theme and the Titanic inflatable slide to the "NOPE" pile. The first time I saw a Titanic slide I was flabbergasted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stacia Posted June 22, 2014 Share Posted June 22, 2014 I think the decorations would be way prettier if they took off the le them eat cake slogan I agree with this. Most kids wouldn't get the reference, I think (&, sadly, lots of adults wouldn't either, I"m guessing). If they were wanting to capture the over-the-top fashion/frilliness & extravagance of the court of that period, they could have come up w/ a different name & it would have been fine & still cute. W/ the wording... no, not so cute. SparklyUnicorn has a good point too. There are plenty of 'violence' themed party ideas (pirates, various ones imitating popular shooter video games, etc...). So, maybe not outside of the norm.... ETA: It may seem outside the bounds (the Titanic stuff too), but otoh, comedians & others often are the ones pointing the fingers & laughing at some horrific events (Mel Brooks & the Spanish Inquisition comes to mind), perhaps as a way to wake us up to the horror & our shared humanity by reminding us of these things. So, I don't necessarily consider certain topics/events taboo from mockery or being in the spotlight, but I'm not sure a child's birthday party is the place for that. :huh: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavandula Posted June 22, 2014 Share Posted June 22, 2014 It's not trying to bring humor at the sad event while acknowledging it was sad though, it's turning it into a cute pastel party for little girls. It just seems close to how people talk about they'd loooooove to live in the 20s, 30s, whenever. Nope, doubt you would. Terrible, awful time for civil rights. But do you appreciate the aesthetic? Yes, and that's fine. I like the aesthetic. The color scheme, big dresses, etc. are adorable and I'm much older than the girl this party is intended for. I just think it's just the basing it around a fake quote related to that topic that's in poor taste. I've never liked pirate themed parties either. Or pirate themed anything, really. I always remember an episode of bar rescue where this bar was pirate themed and all the adults dressed up as pirates. They were constantly talking about how everyone really wants to be a pirate. Um, no? Did ever you go to history class? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ocelotmom Posted June 22, 2014 Share Posted June 22, 2014 I suspect the people who came up with it had heard the phrase "Let them eat cake", but weren't actually familiar with the historical context. Which you'd think they would have come across in creating the party, but that's the most reasonable explanation I can think of - "Let them eat cake" is kind of an adorable kid's party theme, taken out of context. I've been told that "cake" actually referred to the drippings left in the oven after making bread, so the suggestion was still insensitive, but not actually as nonsensically unrealistic as suggesting they eat a dessert if they can't afford bread. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardenmom5 Posted June 22, 2014 Share Posted June 22, 2014 the dressing up for an 18th century tea party theme is cute - but they could have EASILY done something other than marie antoinette! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardenmom5 Posted June 22, 2014 Share Posted June 22, 2014 Y'all should check out the link and look at the birthday girl. The people who came up with that must be seriously uneducated in history. sadly far too common. (I would imagine those buying it are too.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardenmom5 Posted June 22, 2014 Share Posted June 22, 2014 I suspect the people who came up with it had heard the phrase "Let them eat cake", but weren't actually familiar with the historical context. Which you'd think they would have come across in creating the party, but that's the most reasonable explanation I can think of - "Let them eat cake" is kind of an adorable kid's party theme, taken out of context. I've been told that "cake" actually referred to the drippings left in the oven after making bread, so the suggestion was still insensitive, but not actually as nonsensically unrealistic as suggesting they eat a dessert if they can't afford bread. this is what I was also taught. it can be used as a lesson on the evolution and variance of languge. when I teach a lesson using middle english sources, I will also look up words and give the meaning they had *then*. sometimes the meaning is very different to today. (though olde english is the worst! for changes.) oh - I don't consider it as insentive as I do downright callous. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
umsami Posted June 22, 2014 Share Posted June 22, 2014 I can't see this selling well. I think it's ummm….tacky….. for lack of a better word, but many children parties are. If DD ever wanted this party, Mom would have to turn it into a history lesson. LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardenmom5 Posted June 22, 2014 Share Posted June 22, 2014 I looked through some of their boys party theme stuff. . . . . I'd toss almost half of what I saw as unacceptable. I'd love a good mythbusters party theme . . . I can see boys having LOTS of fun with that =D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scrub Jay Posted June 22, 2014 Share Posted June 22, 2014 I didn't even know the Titanic slide existed. Wow! :/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MercyA Posted June 22, 2014 Author Share Posted June 22, 2014 Thanks to all of you for sharing your thoughts on this! I was aghast when I saw it, but wondered if I was being too crotchety. :) I'm not a fan of pirate parties, either. The same company has a "Pretty Pirate" party. Check out the girly skull and crossbones, decorated with a pink heart and pink striped head scarf. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crimson Wife Posted June 22, 2014 Share Posted June 22, 2014 I have an "only positive costumes" rule for Halloween and one year my DS really wanted to be a pirate. So we ended up compromising by making him a privateer and his sisters Spanish ladies. It's a very fine line between privateer and pirate but the former did have blessing from the crown for the plundering. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catwoman Posted June 22, 2014 Share Posted June 22, 2014 I don't watch Honey Boo Boo, but in my imagination, she'd have a bday party like this. Yeah, sure... Like Honey Boo Boo's family has ever heard of Marie Antoinette... :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farrar Posted June 22, 2014 Share Posted June 22, 2014 I was about to click "meh" but then I followed the link. Tacky. Even if it wasn't historically weird and/or insensitive. On the one hand, I'm like, it's a stupid kid party. I do all kinds of dumb things for my kids' parties and it's all in good fun. And on the other hand, I'm like, we're really in the bread and circus period, I guess. It's like we're in the capital celebrating the Hunger Games. Not to read too much into it or anything. :tongue_smilie: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slartibartfast Posted June 22, 2014 Share Posted June 22, 2014 I agree that one could have a party based on the same time period without bringing starving peasants or beheaded queens into it. Titanic slide is crazy, what is wrong with people? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shanvan Posted June 22, 2014 Share Posted June 22, 2014 The first time I saw a Titanic slide I was flabbergasted. I am flabbergasted right now. Never heard of a Titanic slide. :huh: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shanvan Posted June 22, 2014 Share Posted June 22, 2014 Y'all should check out the link and look at the birthday girl. The people who came up with that must be seriously uneducated in history. At first I thought that big pink stand up thing was a guillotine! That would make for a very interesting party! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barb_ Posted June 22, 2014 Share Posted June 22, 2014 Outside of the tackiness, I can't imagine any small child picking that. Cause she's a Queen and wears an awesome dress, Mom. Duh! /sarcasm/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kathryn Posted June 22, 2014 Share Posted June 22, 2014 Must go google Titanic slide... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kathryn Posted June 22, 2014 Share Posted June 22, 2014 Oh my. How inappropriate and morbid. As one article that came up said, after quoting someone who shrugged that it's been a hundred years so who cares, "On the 100th anniversary of 9/11, will the world see the same level of sentiment? Will there be inflatable Twin Towers for people to jump off?" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shanvan Posted June 22, 2014 Share Posted June 22, 2014 Titanic slide is a bit off...but you know, the French royalty really did ask to be made into cake. Dickens comes to mind. "Of his pleasures, general and particular, Monseigneur had the other truly noble idea, that the world was made for them. The text of his order (altered from the original by only a pronoun, which is not much) ran: “The earth and the fulness thereof are mine, saith Monseigneur.†Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theYoungerMrsWarde Posted June 23, 2014 Share Posted June 23, 2014 My 5 year old LOVES pirates, and for his birthday requested and recieved pirate playombile sets as gifts. The only thing he knows about pirates are The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything. So I let him play pirates which mostly to him means saying "arrrr!" And sword fighting. Let them eat Cake party is historically ignorant and I would not purchase that product. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rebel Yell Posted June 23, 2014 Share Posted June 23, 2014 Voted "Other" I think it is horrendously tacky and stupid, BUT I'm guessing the people who designed the line have no more of a clue than the people who will buy it, so I'm going to assume the best and not hold their idiocy against them. I wouldn't stay home from a best buddy's party over it. But if I were a truly depraved person, I might buy the stuff on clearance for a Cards Against Humanity party. :leaving: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trulycrabby Posted June 23, 2014 Share Posted June 23, 2014 Ugh. All pink and pretty, just like the French Revolution. (Rolleyes) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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