Tabarnak! A look at swearing in Quebec
Tabarnak! If you live in Quebec, you have probably heard that oath more than a few times. And there are very few French-speaking Quebecers who have not said it themselves, despite their mother’s reprimands to refrain from uttering the offensive swear word.
People have used colourful terms and vivid expressions to express their emotions since the beginning of time. Favourite words have made reference to sex, scatology, taboos—and religion, despite the admonishments of the Church, outraged by the misappropriation of religious terms.  
Nevertheless, no one can deny that swearing is an integral part of Quebec culture. Whether we try to repress or encourage it, swearing has become an important aspect of Quebecers’ identity.
But beyond the words themselves, what is swearing? Why does it offend? What does it represent? Christianity’s grip on Quebec society has weakened since the Quiet Revolution, and yet swearing still has a negative connotation.
This exhibition is merely an introduction to this vast topic, an attempt to demystify the vocabulary by looking at the very particular situation in Quebec. In short, a way to get you to ask questions about your own relationship with profanity.