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” We killed Charlie Hebdo, “boasted armed fugitives after their carnage. But can we strike with machine guns over half a century of history and an institution of the French press that is like no other?
An expression glue the pages of the weekly and skin of its journalists: “spirit Charlie ” . Summarize the spirit is always tricky: no doubt, however, that there is in this formula a digest of freedom of tone, caustic humor, irreverence and pride, structured around strong left-wing values, where the defense secularism often appeared on the front line
The adventure started there a long time, on the edge of the 1960s, as is often around a group of friends inspired. Cavanna, Fred and Georges Bernier, who became the famous Georges Bernier, and the expert claimed the “evil beast humor” . On this small nucleus will aggregate other future big names like Jean-Maurice Cabut says Cabu, Topor, or Georges Wolinski and Jean-Marc Reiser. Together they launched Hara Kiri, monthly ancestor of Charlie Hebdo . The tone already was satirical, and master designers on board, in a boat that was more of a frail boat that the ship. Cavanna then uses five or six different pseudonyms to fill the newspaper article …
Read the portfolio: The spirit Charlie Hebdo, “expose stupidity by Laughter “
Standard of the” stupid and malicious humor “
Starting from a drawing to 2 000, Hara Kiri quickly takes off. In Gaullist France, still very prudish, this sassy newspaper brings breath of fresh air jubilant and transgressive. In 1961, he was caught once by censorship. Condemned on the grounds that the drawings of Fred and Topor are “morbid”. He will serve seven-month ban. Surviving in fresh, sold by hawkers in the provinces, Hara Kiri goes again. Endeavoring to overcome the taboos of the time, with his wry humor. The naked bodies are everywhere proscribed? Not in the drawings of the monthly, which has a little taste before May 68. In 1966, the journal will be banned again for eight months.
This is what launched in February 1969, in addition to the monthly, Hara-Kiri Hebdo , the tone is deliberately more political. In November 1970, the title created a controversy by barring its “a” title “tragic Ball at Colombey, 1 dead” while France mourns the General de Gaulle. A reference to a fire in a nightclub, ten days earlier, which had 146 deaths. . But also a crime of lese-majeste
“Charlie Hebdo” takes “Hara Kiri” relay
The penalty comes quickly: Hara Kiri is again banned on the orders of the interior minister, Raymond Marcellin. But this new censorship will be his chance. How to dream better advertising? It will also set the new title name. To get around the ban, Hara Kiri changes skin and becomes Charlie Hebdo . The small newspaper a little dunce is a place of choice in becoming a symbol of freedom of expression: it receives the support of people like Jean-Paul Sartre and Jacques Fauvet, director of World .
In 1970, Charlie Hebdo become a key player. The title is sold every week around 150,000 copies between 1970 and 1974. These are his carefree years of dolce vita. But soon this life of tinkers and smoky pots loopback night is caught by a lack of fiscal discipline. Charlie closed in 1981 after supporting the candidacy of Coluche in the presidential election. “The years have completed yuppies us” , once told the World Wolinski and Cavanna ( Le Monde , 7-8 February 1999).
A first stop in 1981, a revival in 1992
In 1992, however, the title is reborn from its ashes. With much of the old team, who goes out of his pocket, and enjoys financial support from the singer Renaud. Charlie Hebdo quickly found a strong audience with draws stabilized around 140,000 copies, under the guidance of a new editorial director, Philippe Val.
Life would have been able to continue chugging along, with blows of small chips. But in February 2006, Charlie Hebdo decided to replicate the Muhammad cartoon series originally published in the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten , which resulted in a host of events in several countries the majority Muslim population. Charlie Hebdo , suddenly, opens a new page in its history. Number twice reprinted, tears in kiosks. But it triggers a fire. Sued by the Great Mosque of Paris, the Union of Islamic Organizations of France and the Muslim World League, the weekly will ultimately win his case.
Provocateur, Charlie ? Certainly, and proud of it. But the title is much more than that. He then tried, somehow, with all the difficulties that this position entails, to continue to embody an anti-racist left but uncompromising face the radicalization of some Muslims. It also has its share of internal difficulties: Philippe Val goes in 2009 to reach Radio France , having graduated in 2008 Sine, one of the figures of the weekly, antisemitism <. / p>
A threat present continuously
Charlie Hebdo is stretched, but do not bend, true to its famous spirit, which says -on, inspired many adventures, The Echo of savannas to Canal +. In 2011, local Charlie Hebdo are victims of the first attack. On the night of Tuesday, 1 st to Wednesday, November 2nd, its premises, while Boulevard Davout, in the XX th arrondissement of Paris, were burned. The claim makes no victims, but the damage is enormous. A new “one” has warmed the spirits. Mohammed A hilarious it exclaims: “100 lashes if you do not die laughing.” Writing, stunned by the attack, found refuge for a time in the premises of release .
Since 2006, Charlie Hebdo was accustomed to death threats, if possible, and never renounced his beliefs. Its journalists lived with this threat, trying not to think about it. The managing editor, Charb, had drawn in the latest issue of the weekly drawing that was funny, but became terribly prescient. One sees a jihadist, overlooked text “Still no attacks in France” , which responds: “until the end of January was to present his vows. “
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