Political Humor Worldwide: The Cultural Context of Political Comedy, Satire, and Parody (The Language of Politics)

Preface
Contents
Contributors
1 Humor and Politics: A Conceptual Introduction
	1.1 Introduction
	1.2 Theoretical Considerations
		1.2.1 Superiority Theory
		1.2.2 Incongruity Theory
		1.2.3 Relief/Release Theory
		1.2.4 Comprehensive Theories
	1.3 Self and Other: The Fabric of Ethno-National Humor
		1.3.1 Contrasts in Humor
		1.3.2 Comparing Ethnic Groups
		1.3.3 Comparing National Characters
	1.4 Creating and Exploiting Political Humor
		1.4.1 The Public
		1.4.2 The Politicians
		1.4.3 The Mass Media
		1.4.4 Live Performances
	1.5 The Cultural Dimension
	1.6 Overview of the Volume
	References
Part I Humor in Legislative Bodies
2 Founding Contradictions, Contemporary Expressions: Political Humor in American Culture
	2.1 Introduction
	2.2 Political Humor/Political Culture
	2.3 The Great American Joke
	2.4 Fictional Politics
	2.5 The Strategic Use of Humor by Elected Officials
	2.6 Comedy and Cancel Culture
	2.7 Conclusion
	References
3 Humorous Genres and Modes in Greek Political Discourse
	3.1 Introduction
	3.2 The Overall Context: Humor in Greek Culture and Politics (2008–2023)
		3.2.1 Humor as Positive Politeness—Humor as Impoliteness
		3.2.2 Parliamentary Humor as an Impoliteness Strategy
		3.2.3 Political Satire
	3.3 Data Analysis: Humor as an Impoliteness Strategy in Greek Political Genres
		3.3.1 Sexist Humor
		3.3.2 Humor as Strategic Rudeness
		3.3.3 Political Satire in the Context of Contemporary Greek Politics
	3.4 Conclusion
	References
4 British Phlegm and Individualism in Humorous Political Advertising
	4.1 Introduction
	4.2 Theoretical Framework
		4.2.1 The Individualistic Society of the U.K. and its Effect on the Use of Humor
		4.2.2 Beyond the Cultural Aspect: The “British Phlegm” and the “British Humor”
	4.3 Historical Milestones and the Utilization of Political Humor in the U.K.: an Examination of Prime Ministers from 1997 to 2023
		4.3.1 Tony Blair
		4.3.2 Gordon Brown
		4.3.3 David Cameron
		4.3.4 Boris Johnson
		4.3.5 Elizabeth Truss
		4.3.6 Rishi Sunak
	4.4 Conclusion
	References
5 “Kapwa” and Filipinos’ Fixation with Presidential Jokes
	5.1 Introduction
	5.2 Presidents, Kapwa, and Political Humor
	5.3 Presidents as Comedians
		5.3.1 Corazon Aquino
		5.3.2 Fidel Ramos
		5.3.3 Joseph Estrada
		5.3.4 Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
		5.3.5 Benigno Simeon Aquino III
		5.3.6 Rodrigo Duterte
	5.4 Concluding Remarks
	References
6 Holocaust Humor in Israel as a Political Tool of the Left-Wing
	6.1 Introduction
		6.1.1 Holocaust Humor and Black Humor as a Left-Wing Political Weapon
	6.2 Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu and Holocaust-Related Satire
	6.3 Lampooning the Siege Mentality and the Holocaust-Based Victimization Narrative
	6.4 Right-Wing Politicians as Nazis
	6.5 Conclusion
	References
Part II Ethno-National Humor in Religion, Art, and Popular Culture
7 Cultural Wars in Polish Political Humor
	7.1 Introduction: Historical Overview
	7.2 Cultural Sources and Inspirations of Political Humor
		7.2.1 Case Study—Dziad(y)
	7.3 Dziady in the Theater
		7.3.1 Background—Warsaw 1968
		7.3.2 Kraków 2021
	7.4 Feminism, Liberal Movements and Language Policy
	7.5 Conclusions
	References
8 Jewish Humor as a Survival Tool and a Bridge to Social Justice
	8.1 Introduction
	8.2 Why We Laugh
	8.3 An Historical Perspective of Jewish Humor
		8.3.1 From the Hebrew Bible
		8.3.2 The Medieval Period
		8.3.3 Spanish Inquisition: 1478–1834
		8.3.4 Blood Libels: 12th Century—Present
		8.3.5 The Holocaust: Mid-20th Century
		8.3.6 Assimilation
		8.3.7 Neo-Nazis and Other Modern Antisemites
	8.4 Social Justice Humor
	8.5 Conclusion
	References
9 Humor and Cynical Political Parody in Italian Movies and Newspaper Cartoons
	9.1 Introduction
	9.2 A Difficult Balance: Satire Between Nostalgia and True Criticism
	9.3 A Different Code for a Cynical, Sometimes Debasing Approach
	9.4 Other Media
	9.5 Conclusions
	References
10 The Power of Funny: Indigenous High Art as Quiescence and Rebellion
	10.1 Introduction
	10.2 Grounds for Apsáalooke Protest
	10.3 The Power of Humor
		10.3.1 Pacification
	10.4 Native American Humor
	10.5 Analysis
	10.6 Conclusion
	References
11 The Cultural Background of Political Humor “Sung” by the Spanish People
	11.1 Introduction: The Cádiz Carnival as a Poetic-Journalistic-Humorous Phenomenon
	11.2 Relevance Theory and Carnival Humor
	11.3 Spanish Culture, Humor and Politics in the Cádiz Carnival 2023
		11.3.1 Catholic Religion, Holy Week, the Civil War, Fascism
		11.3.2 Mass Media, the Spanish Morning Breakfast of Housewives and Pensioners, the Growth of Neo-Fascism
		11.3.3 Anti-immigration, Racism, Fascism in Political Institutions
		11.3.4 Aristocracy; Andalusian Latifundia; Spanish Monarchy
		11.3.5 On Women Politicians
	11.4 Final Considerations
	References
Part III Framing and Analyzing Political Humor
12 Political Humor in American Culture: From Affability to Aggression
	12.1 Introduction
	12.2 Invited Behavior and Leaders’ Use of Humor
		12.2.1 Invited Behavior
		12.2.2 Ten Invitations—Why is Leaders’ Humor Powerful?
	12.3 Leaders’ Humor in the Era of Legitimacy
		12.3.1 The Cultural Context
		12.3.2 Defusing Threats—Three Examples
		12.3.3 Self-Deprecation in an Era of Legitimacy—From Kennedy to Clinton
	12.4 Leaders’ Humor: The Era of Illegitimacy and Polarization
		12.4.1 The Political/Cultural Context
		12.4.2 Aggressive, Divisive Humor
	12.5 Conclusion
	References
13 Political Humor: Theoretical Questions, Methodological Suggestions
	13.1 Introduction
	13.2 The Qualitative Problematics of Categorizing Political Humor
	13.3 Does Female Sexist Political Humor Exist?
	13.4 Future Research Agenda
		13.4.1 Cross-National, Interactional Humor
		13.4.2 The Influence of Political Humor: Quantitative, Empirical Research
		13.4.3 Nationality Without Sovereignty: Political Humor Without the Homeland
		13.4.4 Political Humor Frequency
	13.5 Conclusion
	References
Index