1989 08 03 Paris Match

Magazine Overview

Title: PARIS MATCH
Issue Date: August 3, 1989
Publisher: DOCUMENT PARIS MATCH
Country: France
Language: French
ISSN: 2533-2097
Cover Headline: "UNE PRINCESSE DU SIECLE STEPHANIE PARLE" (A Princess of the Century Stephanie Speaks)

This issue of Paris Match features Princess Stephanie of Monaco on its cover, discussing her personal life and family aspirations. It also highlights an article on a "HISTORICAL MILITARY PARADE" from July 14th, with exclusive photos. A significant portion of the magazine is dedicated to an in-depth investigation into the phenomenon of flying saucers and UFO sightings.

Princess Stephanie Speaks

Princess Stephanie of Monaco, at twenty-four years old, is presented as an emerging personality. She shares her thoughts on family, stating, "One day, I will have my family." She also mentions her relationship with musician Ron Bloom, expressing happiness: "Ron Bloom? We are very happy." She speaks with affection about Caroline, saying, "Caroline? I look at her with love."

The article notes her dual life, balancing official duties in Monaco with her life in Los Angeles, where she lives with Ron Bloom.

The Mystery of Flying Saucers

The magazine delves into the topic of UFOs, questioning "WHERE HAVE THE FLYING SAUCERS GONE?" It notes that while UFOs were a major media topic in the late 1970s and early 1980s, interest has waned, not due to a lack of sightings, but due to media fatigue and a lack of compelling new evidence. Ufologists, however, maintain that UFOs are still present, with some even claiming their numbers have increased.

Decline in Media Coverage

An analysis by Gilles Durand, a specialist in UFOs and founder of "Ovni presse service," reveals that while regional press still reports on UFOs, the national Parisian press has largely ceased to cover the topic. Durand's study, based on press clippings, found approximately 700 regional articles on UFOs in two years, with about half detailing observations. Despite ongoing reports of sightings, from nocturnal lights to humanoid encounters, the phenomenon has lost its media appeal.

Ufologists and Their Work

SOS-Ovni, a service of the A.e.s.v. (Association d'étude sur les soucoupes volantes), continues to receive and dispatch witness testimonies. Recent cases, deemed highly curious by ufologists, have gone unreported by the mainstream press. One such case involved a man in Narbonne in December 1987 who reported seeing small, Asian-looking figures and strange crafts near his barbecue. The figures then ascended into the sky in peculiar individual boats.

Sociologist Jean-Bruno Renard suggests that media editors in Paris decide what is of interest to the public, contributing to the decline in coverage. The lack of reliable photographic or cinematographic evidence is also cited as a reason for the public's waning interest. Belief in UFOs largely relies on indirect evidence, such as physical traces left on the ground (like the lavender field incident in 1965) or on witnesses themselves (e.g., unexplained beard growth or scars).

The Rise of Abduction Narratives

The phenomenon of "abductions" has become prominent in the US over the past two years, with over four thousand reported cases. These often involve a period of amnesia, followed by recovered memories (sometimes through hypnosis) of being captured by extraterrestrials, subjected to medical examinations, and then returned. While witnesses appear sincere, the reality of these experiences remains debated.

The Lyon Encounters

The article discusses a recent congress in Lyon where French and international ufologists, sociologists, and researchers gathered. The discussion highlighted a shift in how the UFO phenomenon is viewed. The traditional dichotomy of either extraterrestrial visits or psychological hallucinations is being replaced by a more open and cautious approach. Researchers are now more focused on understanding the psychological and sociological aspects before resorting to extraordinary hypotheses.

Pierre Lagrange presented research on the early days of UFO sightings, starting with Kenneth Arnold's 1947 observation. William Moore discussed the controversial Roswell crash, presenting evidence of a mysterious object and military cover-up. François Bourbeau shared a recent abduction case from Quebec, where a witness was examined in a UFO.

Bertrand Méheust, a philosophy professor, outlined a common abduction scenario: a person in a deserted area or on a lonely road sees a light, a structured craft descends, and the person is taken aboard for examinations, often involving blood and tissue samples. The experience is frequently traumatic, and memories may only resurface through hypnosis.

French vs. American UFO Cases

While abduction cases are prevalent in North and South America, they are less common in France. The article notes about thirty cases in Great Britain and twenty in Italy. The historical context of UFO sightings in France is also discussed, with the 1954 wave of "humanoid encounters" being a significant event. A Belgian case involving two young girls who reported being abducted by a metallic object and taken into space is detailed.

Explanations and Theories

Various explanations for UFO phenomena are explored:

• Extraterrestrial Experiments: Some researchers believe aliens are conducting medical or genetic experiments on humans.
• Ethno-Folklore: Others, like Bertrand Méheust, view these phenomena as modern manifestations of ancient myths, akin to witch sabbaths or spirit visitations.
• Pluridimensional Hypothesis: Jacques Vallée proposes that UFOs are real phenomena involving manipulation of space-time, with physical components capable of influencing human psychology. He criticizes the methods of some US-based investigators who use hypnosis to induce specific narratives.

The "Residue" and the Future of Ufology

The persistent "residue" of unexplained cases is a key factor in the ongoing interest in UFOs, even as mainstream media attention fades. The article concludes by noting that the study of UFOs, like the phenomenology of religions, continues to thrive, suggesting that the phenomenon is not disappearing but rather evolving and finding new avenues of expression.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine's stance appears to be one of journalistic inquiry, presenting the complex and often controversial topic of UFOs with a degree of skepticism but also an openness to the ongoing research and witness testimonies. It highlights the sociological and psychological dimensions of belief in UFOs, contrasting the decline in media coverage with the continued dedication of ufologists. The editorial stance is to explore the phenomenon, present different viewpoints, and acknowledge the persistent mysteries that defy easy explanation, while also being critical of sensationalism and unscientific investigative methods. The cover story on Princess Stephanie suggests a broader interest in celebrity and royal news alongside more investigative features.