Clercs et jongleurs dans la société médiévale (XIIe et XIIIe siècles) - article ; n°5 ; vol.34, pg 913-928

Annales. Économies, Sociétés, Civilisations - Année 1979 - Volume 34 - Numéro 5 - Pages 913-928
Clerks and jesters in mediaeval society 2th- 13th centuries Carla CASAGRANDE et Silvana VECCHIO The image of the jester elaborated by the priests in the XIIth and XIIIth centuries was that of social figure placed outside the Societas Christiana number of charges are levelled at the jester his improper and excessive use of speech and body his vagrancy and his being socially useless and dangerous Moreover histriones mimi joculatores are confined in space at once real and symbolic peopled by marginal and dangerous figures prostitutes charlatans of every kind animals and demons Often the condemnation of the jester becomes the condemnation of his public too While on the one hand these charges desmonstrate the marginal character of the jesters on the other they are used as negative pattern which shapes the figure and conduct of churchmen in particular This hostile attitude undergoes partial change with the rise of the Mendicant Orders Franciscans and Dominicans who enjoy closer contact with the Jesters minstrels buffoons because of their apostolic engagement are led to face them in more realistic fashion This is the beginning of revaluation of the figure which eventually leads to his reintegration into society St Thomas Furthermore it is possible to observe in the Franciscan milieu more ambiguous process both imitative and competitive when Franciscan preachers adopt the techniques St Francis Roger Bacon) their impact on the audience in the public squares becomes more dramatic
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Source : Persée ; Ministère de la jeunesse, de l’éducation nationale et de la recherche, Direction de l’enseignement supérieur, Sous-direction des bibliothèques et de la documentation.