“Laughing can be used to put drama at a distance” according to sociologist Jean Viard

The Alpe d’Huez international comedy film festival unveils its prize list this Saturday, January 18. The opportunity to question the place of laughter in our society with sociologist Jean Viard.

The Alpe d’Huez international comedy film festival ends this Saturday, January 18. Each year it allows you to discover the comedies that will arrive in our cinemas. The success of the film A little something extra in 2024 and that of A fanfare These last few weeks bear witness to the good health of French comedies. The public is looking for moments of relaxation.

franceinfo: What is the place of laughter in our society today?

Jean Viard: You just have to listen to the radio to understand it. Comedians are everywhere. We also see a lot of stand-up shows. The success of the film A little something extra is exceptional because a priori we are always afraid to laugh at the difference. For example, we can talk about Jewish humor. Jews can laugh among themselves about certain topics because it’s a way of keeping drama at bay, but when you’re not Jewish, you don’t laugh. Laughter can both integrate and divide. At the moment, in our society we seek to make people laugh. We put them everywhere because it’s also a way of putting death and drama at bay. You have to distinguish between laughter. We have a natural laugh; we tickle you, you laugh. There is also a more cultural laughter, about codes that bring us together.

Laughter creates cohesion in a society, but it can also divide or even exclude. We must not attack the weakest. You can’t laugh at a disabled person, you can’t laugh at a guy who has trouble walking because he’s too fat. We then enter into radical violence.

Can laughter also allow us to escape certain moments of despair, or even struggle?

Of course ! Look at what happened in the National Assembly this week, when the Prime Minister got lost in his papers. He mixed everything up and played it with humor. Everyone burst out laughing because we needed to relax, so he overplayed. In itself, there was nothing funny about it. It is also a biological phenomenon. Laughter causes the release of several substances in the body such as endorphins and it makes us feel good. There are also people for whom it is almost a life philosophy to laugh.

Is laughter one of the many interactions needed in a day?

In a day, on average, we will have around forty interactions. It could be holding the door for someone, making a joke, saying hello. It’s not necessarily a great conversation. And we can be made to laugh when someone makes a good joke, even if we don’t know them. It’s fraternal. This contributes to social cohesion and the easing of tensions. Laughter should not be aggressive. The objective is not to make it a weapon of combat against others, it is first of all to make it a weapon of unity.