The Construction of a Post-Discoursive Satirical Ethos: A Case Study of Jacques Chirac in Le Canard enchaîné

Abstract

Personality traits constitute an essential component of the image of politicians that spreads through the media. In the particular case of the satirical press, this image is constructed through a process of simplification, exaggeration and alteration which highlights specific traits susceptible of provoking laughter and disqualification. In this study we propose to analyse this image in terms of a post-discursive ethos, thus mediatised and twisted. In order to do that, we take as a case study 234 headlines and 405 political cartoons published by the weekly Le Canard enchaîné and referring to President Jacques Chirac (1995-2007) during four periods of great political importance