Laughing at the Dreyfus Affair: Cartoon Antisemitism and the Politics of Ridicule Featuring Dr. Andrew Kotick

The Dreyfus Affair, one of 19th-century France’s most notorious political and judicial scandals, began in 1894 with the false conviction of French officer Alfred Dreyfus as a German spy. Exposed as an antisemitic conspiracy just two years later, the affair became a defining moment in French society, highlighting conflicts over morality, justice, and national identity. Dr. Kotick’s lecture offers a fresh perspective by exploring the role of satire and visual humor in shaping public opinion. Using caricatures and illustrations from popular press such as Le Rire, he demonstrates how laughter became a powerful political tool, defining belonging, exclusion, and modern mass politics. This program is co-sponsored by the NYU Center for the Study of Antisemitism and the Institute of French Studies at NYU.

Tickets: Free, registration required. Reserve your spot.