Jean-Pierre Brisset
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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| - | --"[[Les dents, la bouche]]" by [[Jean-Pierre Brisset]] | + | --"[[Les dents, la bouche]]" (1900) by Jean-Pierre Brisset |
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| - | '''Jean-Pierre Brisset''' (La Sauvagère, ''Orne'' [[1837]] – La Ferté-Macé, ''Orne'' [[1919]]) was a [[French writer]] and [[fou littéraire]] born of peasant farmers. | + | '''Jean-Pierre Brisset''' (October 30, 1837 – September 2, 1919) was a [[French literature|French]] [[outsider writer]]. He is the author of |
| + | ''[[La science de Dieu ou La création de l'homme]]'' (1900). | ||
| - | He was an [[Outsider_art|outsider writer]], much like [[Henri Rousseau]] was an outsider artist. He is a saint on the [['Pataphysics|'Pataphysics calendar]]. He was featured in Breton's ''[[Anthology of Black Humour]]''. | + | ==Biography== |
| + | Born into a farming family of [[La Sauvagère]], Brisset was an [[Autodidacticism|autodidact]]. Having left school at age twelve to help on the family farm, he apprenticed as a pastry chef in Paris three years later. In 1855, he enlisted in the army for seven years and fought in the [[Crimean War]]. In 1859, during the war in [[Italy]] against the [[Austria]]ns. After he was wounded at the [[Battle of Magenta]], he was taken prisoner. During the [[Franco-Prussian War]], he was a second lieutenant in the 50<sup>e</sup> régiment d'infanterie de ligne. Taken prisoner again, he was sent to [[Magdeburg]] in [[Saxony]] where he learned [[German language|German]]. | ||
| - | His writings are in publication as of 2004. Most of his work was [[self-published]]. He has a theory that man descended from [[frog]]s. | + | In 1871, he published ''La natation ou l’art de nager appris seul en moins d’une heure'' (''Learning the art of swimming alone in less than an hour''), then resigned from the Army and moved to [[Marseilles]]. Here he filed a [[patent]] for the "airlift swimming trunks and belt with a double compensatory reservoir". This commercial endeavor was a complete failure. He returned to Magdeburg, where he earned his living as a language teacher, developing a method for learning French, which he [[self-published]] in 1874. |
| - | His best-known poem is ''[[Les dents, la bouche]]'', a poem which is [[untranslatable]] due to its reliance on [[paronymy]]. | + | Brisset became [[stationmaster]] at the [[railway station]] of [[Angers]], and later of [[L'Aigle]]. After publishing another book on the French language, he undertook his major philosophical work, in which contended that humans were descended from [[frogs]]. Brisset supported his contention by comparing the French and frog languages (such as "logement" = dwelling, comes from "l'eau" = water). He was serious about his "morosophy", and authored a number of books and pamphlets put forth his indisputable substantiations, which he had printed and distributed at his own expense. |
| - | == Life and work == | + | In 1912, novelist [[Jules Romains]], who had obtained copies of ''God's Mystery'' and ''The Human Origins'', set up, with the help of fellow hoaxers, a rigged election for a "Prince of Thinkers". Unsurprisingly, Brisset got elected. The Election Committee then called Brisset to Paris in 1913, where he was received and acclaimed with great pomp. He partook in several ceremonies and a banquet and uttered emotional words of thanks for this unexpected late recognition of his work. Newspapers exposed the [[hoax]] the next day. |
| - | Brisset was an [[Autodidacticism|autodidact]]: as a boy, he learned pastry baking. He served in the army, and became head of the railway station of Angers, and later of l'Aigle. After publishing a book on swimming, and one on French, he undertakes his major philosophical work: to spread his theory that Man's origins are in the water, and that Man descends from Frogs. He finds ample proofs in comparing French and frog language (like "logement"= dwelling, comes from "l'eau" = water). Very serious about his [[morosophy]], he writes several books and pamphlets expounding his irrefutable proofs, and has them printed and distributed at his own expense. | + | In 1919, Brisset died, aged 81, at [[La Ferté-Macé]]. |
| - | In 1912, the writer [[Jules Romains]] obtains a copy of "God's Mystery" and "The Human Origins". With some accomplices, he organises a rigged election of a «Prince of Thinkers», and Brisset gets elected. Brisset is called to Paris by the Election Committee in 1913, where he is pompously received and acclaimed. He participates in several ceremonies and a banquet and pronounces emotional words of thanks for this unexpected late recognition of his work. The next days the newpapers uncover the joke. | + | ==Posthumous reputation== |
| + | The ''Complete Works'' of Brisset were reprinted by Marc Décimo, Dijon, Les Presses du réel, 2001. In an essay entitled, ''Jean-Pierre Brisset, Prince des Penseurs, inventeur, grammairien et prophète'', Dijon, Les presses du réel, 2001, Marc Décimo has given a biography, explanations about Brisset's delirium about frogs as ancestors of humankind. Translations in several languages (European languages, Wolof, Armenian, Arabic, Houma, etc.) can be found in this book as well. | ||
| - | The ''Complete Works'' of Brisset has recently been reprinted by [[Marc Décimo]], Dijon, Les presses du réel, 2001. In an ''Essay'', ''Jean-Pierre Brisset, Prince des Penseurs, inventeur, grammairien et prophète'', Dijon, Les presses du réel, 2001, Marc Décimo has given a biography, explanations about Brisset's delirium about frogs as ancestors of the mankind. We can also find into this book translations in several languages (European languages, Wolof, Armenian, Arabic, Houma, etc.). There are also the main texts written about Brisset by [[Jules Romains]], Marcel [[Duchamp]], [[André Breton]], Raymond [[Queneau]], [[Michel Foucault]]. In 2004 the ''Art of Swimming'' (as a frog) was published in paperback. | + | It also includes the major texts written about Brisset by Jules Romains, [[Marcel Duchamp]], [[André Breton]], [[Raymond Queneau]], [[Michel Foucault]]. In 2004 the ''Art of Swimming'' (as a frog) was published in paperback. |
| - | Around 2001, [[Ernestine Chassebœuf]] wrote several letters to French politicians, universities, railway stations, directors of libraries, psychiatic hospitals, to ask whether they could not name a street, university, etc. after Brisset. Their answers are published on a Brisset website, but until now no "rue Jean-Pierre Brisset" exists. | + | Around 2001, [[Ernestine Chassebœuf]] wrote several letters to French politicians, universities, railway stations, library directors, psychiatric hospitals, to suggest they name a street, a university, etc. after Brisset. Their answers were published on a website dedicated to him, but there is no "rue Jean-Pierre Brisset" yet. Thanks to a bequest to Jules Romain, an annual dinner in his memory was made possible until 1939. |
| - | ==Les presses du réel== | + | |
| - | # ''Œuvres complètes'', [[Les presses du réel]], collection L'écart absolu, Dijon, 2001 et 2e éd. 2004. | + | Brisset is listed as a saint on the [['Pataphysics]] calendar. His writings were in print as of 2004. |
| - | # ''Œuvres natatoires'', [[Les presses du réel]], collection L'écart absolu - poche, Dijon, 2001. | + | |
| - | # ''La Grande nouvelle'', Édition en fac simile du Cymbalum Pataphysicum. | + | ==Works== |
| + | * ''Œuvres complètes'', Les Presses du réel, collection L'écart absolu, Dijon, 2001 et 2<sup>e</sup> éd. 2004. | ||
| + | * ''Œuvres natatoires'', Les Presses du réel, collection L'écart absolu - poche, Dijon, 2001. | ||
| + | * ''La Grande nouvelle'', Édition en fac similé du Cymbalum Pataphysicum. | ||
| + | ==Linking in as of 2022== | ||
| + | *[[Tristan Tzara]] | ||
| + | *[[Comparative linguistics]] | ||
| + | *[[Ernestine Chassebœuf]] | ||
| + | *[[Anthology of Black Humor]] | ||
| + | *[[Francis Masse]] | ||
| - | == See also == | ||
| - | *[[Steven Shaviro on Jean-Pierre Brisset]] | ||
| - | *''[[Les dents, la bouche]]'' | ||
| - | *[[La grande loi ou la clef de la parole]] | ||
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Les dents, la bouche. --"Les dents, la bouche" (1900) by Jean-Pierre Brisset |
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Jean-Pierre Brisset (October 30, 1837 – September 2, 1919) was a French outsider writer. He is the author of La science de Dieu ou La création de l'homme (1900).
Contents |
Biography
Born into a farming family of La Sauvagère, Brisset was an autodidact. Having left school at age twelve to help on the family farm, he apprenticed as a pastry chef in Paris three years later. In 1855, he enlisted in the army for seven years and fought in the Crimean War. In 1859, during the war in Italy against the Austrians. After he was wounded at the Battle of Magenta, he was taken prisoner. During the Franco-Prussian War, he was a second lieutenant in the 50e régiment d'infanterie de ligne. Taken prisoner again, he was sent to Magdeburg in Saxony where he learned German.
In 1871, he published La natation ou l’art de nager appris seul en moins d’une heure (Learning the art of swimming alone in less than an hour), then resigned from the Army and moved to Marseilles. Here he filed a patent for the "airlift swimming trunks and belt with a double compensatory reservoir". This commercial endeavor was a complete failure. He returned to Magdeburg, where he earned his living as a language teacher, developing a method for learning French, which he self-published in 1874.
Brisset became stationmaster at the railway station of Angers, and later of L'Aigle. After publishing another book on the French language, he undertook his major philosophical work, in which contended that humans were descended from frogs. Brisset supported his contention by comparing the French and frog languages (such as "logement" = dwelling, comes from "l'eau" = water). He was serious about his "morosophy", and authored a number of books and pamphlets put forth his indisputable substantiations, which he had printed and distributed at his own expense.
In 1912, novelist Jules Romains, who had obtained copies of God's Mystery and The Human Origins, set up, with the help of fellow hoaxers, a rigged election for a "Prince of Thinkers". Unsurprisingly, Brisset got elected. The Election Committee then called Brisset to Paris in 1913, where he was received and acclaimed with great pomp. He partook in several ceremonies and a banquet and uttered emotional words of thanks for this unexpected late recognition of his work. Newspapers exposed the hoax the next day.
In 1919, Brisset died, aged 81, at La Ferté-Macé.
Posthumous reputation
The Complete Works of Brisset were reprinted by Marc Décimo, Dijon, Les Presses du réel, 2001. In an essay entitled, Jean-Pierre Brisset, Prince des Penseurs, inventeur, grammairien et prophète, Dijon, Les presses du réel, 2001, Marc Décimo has given a biography, explanations about Brisset's delirium about frogs as ancestors of humankind. Translations in several languages (European languages, Wolof, Armenian, Arabic, Houma, etc.) can be found in this book as well.
It also includes the major texts written about Brisset by Jules Romains, Marcel Duchamp, André Breton, Raymond Queneau, Michel Foucault. In 2004 the Art of Swimming (as a frog) was published in paperback.
Around 2001, Ernestine Chassebœuf wrote several letters to French politicians, universities, railway stations, library directors, psychiatric hospitals, to suggest they name a street, a university, etc. after Brisset. Their answers were published on a website dedicated to him, but there is no "rue Jean-Pierre Brisset" yet. Thanks to a bequest to Jules Romain, an annual dinner in his memory was made possible until 1939.
Brisset is listed as a saint on the 'Pataphysics calendar. His writings were in print as of 2004.
Works
- Œuvres complètes, Les Presses du réel, collection L'écart absolu, Dijon, 2001 et 2e éd. 2004.
- Œuvres natatoires, Les Presses du réel, collection L'écart absolu - poche, Dijon, 2001.
- La Grande nouvelle, Édition en fac similé du Cymbalum Pataphysicum.
Linking in as of 2022
