Performing a sense of belonging: East Asian comedians in France

This article will discuss questions of identity, belonging and cultural visibility in French stand-up comedy by focusing on comedians of East Asian descent. It will primarily study the Franco-Cambodian comedian and actor Frédéric Chau and the paradoxes of his career. Chau sought to distance himself from Chinese culture when growing up, yet his comedy routines often concentrated on the forms of culture and traditions that he had previously rejected. In addition, this article will also examine what comedians such as Bun Hay Mean, Luigi Li and Sony Chan demonstrate about representations of the lived experiences of people of East Asian descent in France. Their performances will be shown to symbolize the increasing cultural visibility and confidence of East Asian comedians in France and to mirror the increasing confidence and visibility of East Asians in French society.