The role of self-directed humour in anarchist thought and practice

Abstract

Listen

Translate article

This commentary article explores the role of humour within anarchist thought and practice, emphasising its function as a tool for challenging authority and established norms. Drawing on historical and philosophical sources, it investigates how humour has been used to expose the absurdity of authority and foster a sense of invulnerability against oppression. The paper highlights the use of humour in Parisian cabarets post the 1871 Paris Commune and the case of the French anarchist Ravachol’s smile. These examples, both discussed in the articles of Julian Brigstocke (2017, 2022), demonstrate two kinds of humour: directed at other and at one-self. Building on the ideas of Friedrich Nietzsche (1968, 2008) and Albert Camus (2012), I propose a theoretical framework suggesting that anarchist humour should be self-directed in nature, contrary to the argument of Brigstocke. The paper concludes by arguing that this form of humour, by confronting the absurdity of life and the limitations of norms, fosters liberation and resistance, thereby undermining the power of oppressive forces.