French Laughter: Comedic Literature, films and Caricature (15th-21st C)

Catalog description

I hasten to laugh at everything, for fear of being obliged to weep is a famous quote of 18th C. French writer Beamarchais;it presents a durable trait of French culture, where laughter used to be - and still remains - a powerful way to interact socially. From humour bon enfant to comedic transgressions, from biting irony to conservative strategies fueling the fear of ridicule, laughter in France is neither marginal nor anodyne. Our course will bring together literary texts from the 15th C. onward (theatrical plays as well as poetic satires or novels) with visual media (including political caricatures from the French Revolution up to Charlie Hebdo, or 20th C. movies). Studied authors could include: Rabelais, Moliere, Voltaire, Jarry, Bergson. Conducted in French.