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Will Paris attack have 'chilling effect' on satire?
Will Paris attack have 'chilling effect' on satire? Not according to
satirists.
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Will Paris attack have 'chilling effect' on satire? ________
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Will Paris attack have 'chilling effect' on satire? Not acc
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Will Paris attack have 'chilling effect' on satire?
[writer_people-Puente_Maria.png] Maria Puente, USA TODAY 12:43 p.m. EST
January 8, 2015
Where do journalists and cartoonists draw the line on satire?
Grief in Lille
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The sound of gunfire in the newsroom of a Paris satirical weekly echoed
around the world of satire on Wednesday, but those who make their
living at mockery vowed to press on.
Possibly because of the time difference, it was the European satire
press that responded first to the attack on Charlie Hebdo — in which 12
people were killed — with vows not to let the murder of journalists and
cartoonists chill their free-press right to make fun.
But soon, as the news spread, American satirists, journalists,
humorists and comedians were joining in the condemnations and clarion
calls for freedom.
Comedian Lizz Winstead, a co-creator of one of America's premier
satirical programs, The Daily Show, tweeted her shock.
This story in France hits very close to home. I will honor #Hebdo by
— Lizz Winstead (@lizzwinstead) January 7, 2015
One of America's most prominent satirists, Garry Trudeau, declined to
comment, but that didn't stop his admirers on Twitter.
— The Independent (@Independent) January 7, 2015
"Satire is a human right," declared Tim Wolff, editor-in-chief of
Germany's most popular satirical publication, Titanic, according to an
interview in DW, a German publication. Satire becomes "even more
relevant" after attack like this, he added.
"Of course, on the personal level, we are scared when we hear about
such violence," he said. "However, as a satirist, we are beholden to
the principle that every human being has the right to be parodied. This
should not stop just because of some idiots who go around shooting."
Satirists in Britain, where satiric publications and commentary are a
tradition and pointed mockery is widely admired, also railed at the
attack.
Salman Rushdie, the British novelist once under a death-threat fatwa,
also issued a statement defending satire.
"I stand with Charlie Hebdo, as we all must, to defend the art of
satire, which has always been a force for liberty and against tyranny,
dishonesty and stupidity," he said.
"Here at Jyllands-Posten we live in fear," Rose said. "There have been
numerous episodes that deal with how the handling of Islam and
violence. But Charlie has insisted on their right to make satire, and
now they've paid the highest price for that."
French crowd rallies in Toulouse on Jan. 7, to show solidarity for the
victims of the attack by unknown gunmen on the offices of the satirical
weekly, 'Charlie Hebdo.'
(Photo: ERIC CABANIS, AFP/Getty Images)