Guignol - The History of a Satirical French Puppet Show in the Backdrop of the Industrial Revolution

For digital prints of France: https://www.etsy.com/shop/InstantPhot...

Guignol's cultural roots are found in the silk workers industry of the city of Lyon. While initially the show aimed to entertain, it also informed the public politically. Serving as voice for working class, Guignol used satire to expose the corruption of authority.

In 1831 and 1834, the silk workers of Lyon rioted. The government harshly repressed the uprising. These revolts were part of the rise of the working class, taking place in the backdrop of the Industrial Revolution.

During the Second French Empire (1852-1870), Napoleon III was a target of Guignol's satire, resulting in the French secret police censoring the show.

Carrying his iconic bat, Guignol does not hesitate to beat figures of authority, thus protecting those whom the law fails to protect. Guignol's satirical wit continues for over 200 years, establishing itself in contemporary French political satire.

Guignol in the political satire of the 2017 French elections: https://www.aljazeera.com/features/20...

Attribution:

Music "Wat Dat Dee" by TeknoAXE
Available at http://teknoaxe.com/Link_Code_3.php?q...
Under CC BY 4.0 license https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...

Music "Charlie's Interlude" by TeknoAXE
Available at http://teknoaxe.com/Link_Code_3.php?q...
Under CC BY 4.0 license https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...

💼 Historical caricatures and photographs:

Caricature from Journal de Guignol issue 05, May 28, 1865 (public domain): https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...

Caricature from Théatre de marionnette de Guignol, 1865 (public domain): https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...

The French puppeteer Pierre Rousset with the puppets of Gnafron and Guignol, circa 1880 (public domain): https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...

Cover of Le Guignol de Lyon illustré, issue 03, October 1, 1882 (public domain): https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...

Photograph of a Guignol show for soldiers during WWI in the magazine La guerre photographiée, 29 April 1915 (public domain): https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...

© 2021 Dan Shachar. All rights reserved.

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