A Funny, Educational, and Intellectual Trio: Asterix, Bourdieu, and Psychology

Asterix and the white iris

According to Vicevertus, intellectual in the service of Caesar and main character of the 40th Asterix by Fabcaro and Conrad, “ a happy legionnaire is a combative legionnaire. For this, there is nothing like positive thinking and healthy eating”. A clear introduction: the screenwriter from Montpellier is going to pay for the gurus who nowadays flood TV and social networks with maxims which, under the guise of personal development, pass for great philosophical reflections among the humble.

Vicevertus wants to remobilize the Roman soldiers and above all make the Gauls who are still resisting the invader less aggressive. “ He talks a lot without saying anything », puts Asterix into perspective. But it is clear that the small-time philosopher has an effect on the Gallic village which embraces sport, kindness and quality food. To the great despair of Obélix who regrets no longer being able to kill his three daily wild boars. The gags are numerous, the retorts are often funny, the characters are not too caricatured.

For a first foray into the universe created by Goscinny and Uderzo, Fabcaro comes out with honors. As for Conrad, his drawing is always impeccable.

Bourdieu and Algeria

If Pierre Bourdieu has long animated French intellectual life, the great sociologist has lost his aura in this increasingly violent and religious 21st century. However, we would have liked to have his opinion on the latest current events, both in Ukraine and in the Middle East. For lack of being present, Bourdieu returns to the forefront thanks to this large, well-documented comic book on his Algerian years.

As a young student, he was mobilized at the end of the 1950s to “maintain order” in Algeria. What will be its exact role within the propaganda of the French army? No response due to lack of archives. On the other hand, the rest of his commitment is known and marks the beginning of his research work in sociology. He decides to go teach at the University of Algiers, one of the rare Westerners who makes no difference between Pied Noir and Muslim students. It was during these years that he fell in love with this country and established numerous friendships with local intellectuals, often active in the independence process.

Pascal Génot investigated at length on site, meeting survivors of this troubled period. It retraces these Algerian years but also explains the origin of sociology, and tells the story of Algeria in the dark years and today. All drawn by Olivier Thomas alternating archive images and sublime views of this country with luminous and very beautiful settings.

A sum, sometimes a little too complex, but which enlightens the reader on the foundation of Bourdieu’s thought and also the history, past and present, of this always evolving country that is Algeria.

All about psychology

Another particularly copious album, this “Incredible History of Psychology”. 274 pages of color comics written by Jean-François Marmion, psychologist, and drawn by Pascal Magnat who has already told the story of Le Canard Enchaîné in comics.

Many entries, each more serious than the last, but also with a desire to distract the reader in need of knowledge. Because talking only about psychology could quickly become boring, even boring. But if we associate all the practices, discoveries and research with smiling anecdotes, the whole thing becomes much less indigestible. But the screenwriter does not make fun of the philosophers (even if from the outset he rebuffs poor Freud a little harshly).

So immerse yourself in this complex but rewarding practice and you will be able to shine in society by explaining the theories of Richard Bandler and Josh Grinder on NLP (neurolinguistic programming) or Viktor Frankl’s logotherapy.