De Jenna Marbles à Broad CityLes nouvelles voix irrévérencieuses de l’humour américain

Abstract

This article studies the ways in which a new generation of women comics, who became famous in the public mediatic sphere these last years by using webcasting platforms, claims the importance of a humour focused on irreverence and a raw and dissident speech. Based on the theoretical standpoints of feminist writings of Hélène Cixous, Regina Barreca, Kathleen Rowe and Joanne R. Gilbert, this article shows how these young artists revive a tradition of American female humour lauched in the Fifties by Phyllis Diller and Elaine May. Using different humorous strategies (nonsense, vulgarity, provocation, satire, deliberate discomforts), these comics fight against the sempiternal cliché impying that « women are not funny ». With their resourceful retort and writing talent, they oppose the preconceived heritages and humorous gender conventions.

Keywords

• female humour
• irreverence
• subversion
• United States
• stand-up comic artist
• humorous strategy