A few notes on Charlie Hebdo related matters, aside from the ongoing sorrow and tumult. Josselin Moneyron has a very fine analysis of the past year’s covers in terms of how much they mock religions and their satirical intent. Suffice to say that a lot of the satire goes right over non-French people’s heads. Of course satire that localized is easy to misinterpret or interpret according to local standards. It’s complicated.
Also, Publishers Weekly (disclosure: where I work as an editor) has made this week’s issue free to read and it includes a section of publishers showing support for free speech. In a statement the magazine said “Freedom of expression is core to our values and fundamental to the world of books. Whether publisher or author, bookstore or library, agency or citizen of the world: Nous Sommes Tous Charlie.”
Correction: An earlier version of this post incorrectly identified the author of the Hooded Utiliarian piece.
