If you've ever wondered whether Marie Antoinette's infamous "Let them eat cake" comment could have been softened by a carefully curated Instagram post, well, dear reader, you're not alone. The phrase has haunted the French queen posthumously, like an 18th-century Twitter scandal that never quite faded. Today, we're diving into an alternate reality where Marie Antoinette wielded the influencer might of Instagram. Strap on your powdered wigs and grab your macarons, because this is about to get delightfully imaginative.
The Royals Before Social Media
Back in the 18th century, the corridors of Versailles echoed with the polished clunk of royal shoes rather than the ping of a smartphone notification. Marie Antoinette, with her love for extravagant fashion and luxurious parties, was already a pioneer of style and decadence, but all without a hashtag in sight! The fascinating question is, how would Instagram have changed her legacy?
#RoyalInfluencer
In our newly envisioned timeline, Marie Antoinette's social media presence begins with the help of none other than Jacques Necker, her financially savvy Prime Minister, doubling as a stylish PR strategist. Necker, noted for his ability to balance the kingdom’s books and his knack for an impressive filter game, advises Marie on content strategy.
Their Instagram feed would be a stunning visual banquet. Marie's portraits, once oil-painted demonstrations of wealth, now transform into lush images of the queen enjoying a gilded tea party. Captioned "Feeling cake today 🍰 #SweetLife", the post racks up likes faster than a Louis XVI-era guillotine dropping (apologies, that was a little dark).
The Power of the Selfie
The concept of a selfie would be revolutionary for Marie Antoinette. It offers a direct line to the people, a way to convey her personality, her humanity, beyond the gilded hallways and formal addresses. Her captioned images would reveal not an aloof monarch, but a fashionable, warm-hearted woman who just loves a good chandelier pic.
In one photograph, we see Marie relaxing in her Petit Trianon, the countryside retreat that was a Snapchat paradise waiting to happen. The caption reads, "Taking a breather from the royal hustle. 🏰☀️ What’s your Sunday look like? Let them eat strawberries instead! 🍓 #Reset #NotJustCake".
Fashion Viralists
Ah, fashion! If there was anyone who could turn Versailles into the Met Gala, it was Marie. Her Instagram would morph into an ongoing Paris Fashion Week. "New do, who this?" reads a post featuring sky-high updos adorned with tiny sailboats, a nod to the French navy and a certainly a 'splashing' hairstyle.
And she'd decorate her feed with interactive stories, polls on powdered wig heights, #OOTD snaps of shimmering silk gowns, and perhaps a cooking reel from her exclusive "Let Them Eat Cake" tutorial. Suddenly, the French populace, not enemies, become her enthusiastic supporters, the king and queen's goodwill on the rise, like fresh bread without quotas.
The Historical Impact
Now let’s don our speculative glasses to peer into the resulting historical butterfly effect. With her image softened by deft PR management and her posts reflecting a relatable persona, Marie may have avoided becoming the symbol of monarchical insensitivity.
Perhaps the revolution would have taken another form, less 'off with her head' and more 'down with the bread shortage'. Images of Marie Antoinette visiting bakeries and interacting with citizens, "Caught up with Jacques at the local boulangerie! 🍞 Good things are rising! #BakeTheWorldABetterPlace", could well have served to placate a long-suffering class on the verge of rebellion.
Alas, What if Cake Was a #PeaceOfHistory?
Ultimately, would an Instagram-savvy Marie Antoinette have changed the course of history? Could her feed have starved off the Revolution itself? Well, perhaps not entirely. The weight of social and economic tensions can't be entirely lightened by an increase in double-taps. Yet, it’s intriguing to think that a queen more in touch with her subjects could have lived a longer, less tragic life.
As for us in the 21st century, we'll just have to make do with #ThrowbackThursday to remember a time when kings and queens didn't need to worry about SnapstagramBook, or whatever is en vogue in the digital age. For now, we can continue to muse about the past, chuckling at how close yet how far we've come.
So next time you bite into a delicately frosted piece of cake, spare a thought for Marie and the momentous imaginary Instagram account that never was. 🍰 #SweetFantasy
