Être ou ne pas être (Charlie). Rire, violence verbale, liberté d’expression

Abstract

In this article, starting with the exemplary case of Charlie Hebdo, we discuss the way in which the theme of laughter is intertwined with that of freedom of expression. More precisely, we try to answer the following questions: how can the comic framework modify the space of freedom of expression? Can everything be said within this kind of framework? Can laughter be both an antidote and an enhancer of verbal violence?