The Swiss have a reputation for being rather humourless – a stereotype many say is unfounded. How much is comedy linked to culture, politics and language that perhaps isn’t understood by outsiders?
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I have a wealth of experience as a journalist working in Switzerland and enjoy producing videos, articles and podcasts on a range of subjects, recently focused mainly on politics and the environment.
Born in the UK, I studied law at Nottingham University, then went on to attend the first-ever post-graduate radio journalism college in London. After working as a radio journalist in the UK and then Switzerland from 1984 to 1995, I returned to the UK to complete a post-graduate diploma in film at Bournemouth Film School. I have been working as a video journalist ever since.
“Witzerland”, an exhibition at the Swiss National Museum in the central canton of Schwyz, runs until the end of January 2021 and sheds light on what tickles Swiss ribs. (“Witz” means “joke” in German.)
It features TV clips, artwork and cartoons from humorists such as Patrick Chappette, a cartoonist for the International Herald Tribune and the New York Times for 20 years, and performances from stage giants such as the clown Grock, at one time the highest-paid music hall and variety star.
Historical jokes and puns about Swiss society and neutrality feature alongside blonde gags and cracks about the foibles of wives and husbands, as can be found in any culture.
Curator Pia Schubiger says that if some people find them offensive, it’s a chance to talk about where the boundaries of humour lie.
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If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
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Have you heard the one about Swiss humour?
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The Swiss National Museum has uncovered what has made the reserved country roar with laughter over the years. It reveals that many burning issues were just as relevant for past generations as they are now. The exhibition’s title, Witzerland, is itself a pun – Witz meaning joke in German. Most of the material is in…
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Born in 1880, Grock was a multi-talented entertainer who became a household name throughout the world and who made even Hitler laugh. The exhibition, in Zurich’s city hall until April 17, features costumes, circus posters and photographs spanning Grock’s six decades as a mime artiste, acrobat, musician and composer. It also features a miniature violin…
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If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.