Christophe Hanna's 'Les Berthier' Investigates 1993 Hostage Crisis Through Collective Writing
In 2012, Christophe Hanna, writing as La Rédaction, released 'Les Berthier,' which examines the 1993 hostage situation in Neuilly-sur-Seine. During this event, Érick Schmitt, known as H.B. (Human Bomb), held a nursery school for two days before being shot by law enforcement. Hanna conducted interviews with nearly 130 people bearing the surname Berthier, utilizing a set of 20 questions. The book consists of 19 chapters, each named after a Berthier, intertwining reality with fiction and drawing on Fredric Jameson's idea of 'Simultaneity of Synchronous Monads.' The narrative incorporates various perspectives, including that of the sniper who killed H.B. and Nicolas Sarkozy, the then-mayor of Neuilly. Released amid the 2012 presidential campaign, 'Les Berthier' sought to highlight political figures but was eclipsed by the Merah incident.
Key facts
- Christophe Hanna published 'Les Berthier' in 2012 under the pseudonym La Rédaction.
- The book revisits the 1993 hostage crisis in Neuilly-sur-Seine by Érick Schmitt (H.B.).
- Hanna interviewed nearly 130 people surnamed Berthier, recipients of Schmitt's letters.
- The book has 19 chapters each named after a Berthier.
- The structure uses Fredric Jameson's concept of 'Simultaneity of Synchronous Monads'.
- Figures include the sniper, Nicolas Sarkozy, and Joseph Mouton impersonating Charles Pasqua.
- The book was published during the 2012 French presidential election.
- Hanna's method is 'écrire avec les autres' (writing with others).
Entities
Artists
- Christophe Hanna
- Érick Schmitt
- H.B.
- Fredric Jameson
- André Gide
- Edward Yang
- Nicolas Sarkozy
- Joseph Mouton
- Charles Pasqua
- Pierre Eugène
Institutions
- La Rédaction
- Al Dante
- Capricci
- artpress
Locations
- Neuilly-sur-Seine
- France
- Paris
Sources
- artpress —