Frédéric Pagès
Encyclopedia
Frédéric Pagès is a French journalist noted for his work with the satirical weekly, Le Canard enchaîné
.
Pagès studied philosophy at University and worked as a high school teacher until 1985.
At Le Canard enchaîné, his humorous columns included Le Journal de Xavière T, a spoof diary of Xavière Tiberi
, the wife of Jean Tiberi
, then mayor of Paris, and, from December 2007, Le Journal de Carla B, a spoof diary of Carla Bruni
, wife of President Nicolas Sarkozy
.
The last of these was the subject of controversy when Karl Laske and Laurent Valdiguié published a book Vrai Canard, which alleged that the spoof diary was written by Pierre Charon, a political advisor to the French government, and used to pass on political messages. The editor of Le Canard enchaîné, Michel Gaillard, quickly debunked this claim by naming Frédéric Pagès as the writer.
He founded the "Association of Friends of Jean-Baptiste Botul" to promote this fictitious philosopher and his school of "Botulism
". In 2010, the hoax caught out the well-known TV philosopher Bernard-Henri Lévy
, whose book De la guerre en philosophie used Botul as the primary source for his attack on Kant.
Le Canard enchaîné
Le Canard enchaîné is a satirical newspaper published weekly in France. Founded in 1915, it features investigative journalism and leaks from sources inside the French government, the French political world and the French business world, as well as many jokes and humorous cartoons.-Early...
.
Pagès studied philosophy at University and worked as a high school teacher until 1985.
At Le Canard enchaîné, his humorous columns included Le Journal de Xavière T, a spoof diary of Xavière Tiberi
Xavière Tiberi
Xavière Tiberi is the spouse of former mayor of Paris Jean Tiberi. She is mostly known for being involved in corruption scandals in the Paris region....
, the wife of Jean Tiberi
Jean Tiberi
Jean Tiberi is a French politician who was mayor of Paris from May 22, 1995 to March 24, 2001. , he is mayor of the 5th arrondissement of Paris and deputy to the French National Assembly from the second district of Paris....
, then mayor of Paris, and, from December 2007, Le Journal de Carla B, a spoof diary of Carla Bruni
Carla Bruni
Carla Bruni-Sarkozy is an Italian-French songwriter, singer, actress, and former model...
, wife of President Nicolas Sarkozy
Nicolas Sarkozy
Nicolas Sarkozy is the 23rd and current President of the French Republic and ex officio Co-Prince of Andorra. He assumed the office on 16 May 2007 after defeating the Socialist Party candidate Ségolène Royal 10 days earlier....
.
The last of these was the subject of controversy when Karl Laske and Laurent Valdiguié published a book Vrai Canard, which alleged that the spoof diary was written by Pierre Charon, a political advisor to the French government, and used to pass on political messages. The editor of Le Canard enchaîné, Michel Gaillard, quickly debunked this claim by naming Frédéric Pagès as the writer.
"Botulism"
Pagès has written two books of spoof philosophy under the name Jean-Baptiste Botul:He founded the "Association of Friends of Jean-Baptiste Botul" to promote this fictitious philosopher and his school of "Botulism
Botulism
Botulism also known as botulinus intoxication is a rare but serious paralytic illness caused by botulinum toxin which is metabolic waste produced under anaerobic conditions by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum, and affecting a wide range of mammals, birds and fish...
". In 2010, the hoax caught out the well-known TV philosopher Bernard-Henri Lévy
Bernard-Henri Lévy
Bernard-Henri Lévy is a French public intellectual, philosopher and journalist. Often referred to today, in France, simply as BHL, he was one of the leaders of the "Nouveaux Philosophes" movement in 1976.-Early life:...
, whose book De la guerre en philosophie used Botul as the primary source for his attack on Kant.