How Culture Shapes Perception of Political Humor

This post is written by Apoorva Thakur, junior research assistant at the Department of Psychology, Monk Prayogshala, Mumbai, India.

Humor, specifically political humor, serves a purpose. It can be a way to express one’s thoughts about a situation in a lighter manner or to vent one's frustrations about particular moments while keeping it satirical. Political media, on the other hand, comes in the form of news, news commentaries, and newspaper columns, or any social media platform where people post memes. Political satire is a type of entertainment that criticizes politics through a comedic lens, a unique blend of comedy and critique, and offers audiences fresh perspectives on political issues by using irony and exaggeration. For example, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver breaks down complex political topics using humour, making the information more accessible and engaging for the audience, unlike traditional news outlets that often use more formal and technical language. Political satire uses incongruity to offer fresh perspectives on political issues, challenging what is typically taken for granted and potentially shaping attitudes. Unlike traditional media, it often has a broader, more accessible reach, making its influence distinct and far-reaching. A review also points out that, based on how it is framed, humor can be used to establish as well as to de-establish authorities, since it questions and/or supports the political scenario depending on the situation. Consequently, it can have an impact on the audience, which suggests that political satire can be a powerful resource in political discussions.

Cultural Differences in Political Humor

Political topics, be it on a local, national, or global level, have been a heavy topic due to the strong reactions they receive from the audience. But are there any cultural differences in how people respond to political satire? Research indicates that political ideology plays a significant role in humor appreciation. Conservatives, for instance, are less likely than liberals to enjoy irony and exaggeration in humor. This difference extends to how people respond to humor targeting their political affiliations versus opposing parties. But these findings are largely drawn from Western contexts, where free speech norms and individualism often encourage open critique of authority. When it comes to the United States, a review of literature has concluded that political satire could have an effect on the audience in terms of their overall political attitudes, enhance their political knowledge, and increase their political participation. However, it should be noted that different formats of political humor can have varying effects, underscoring the importance of examining satire for different media outlets. But, when it comes to more collectivist cultures such as Asian countries, this may differ.

Dimensions such as respect for authority and community harmony might affect the acceptability of political satire that may mock political figures or question social cohesion. In non-Western countries, this dynamic can be further complicated by social norms and religious sensitivities. It was also found that in non-Western contexts, exposure to online political comedy was associated with lower public engagement and opinion of leadership compared to Western audiences. In a book titled Humour in Asian Cultures, Jessica Milner Davis talks about how political satire is used and not used in Asian cultures. For example, in Japan, a form of comedy called Rakugo barely ever uses any controversial topics, such as politics or religion, to steer clear of offending anyone.

In an interview, the comedian Sahil Shah emphasized the importance of delivering political jokes with clarity and balance. To prevent misinterpretation, he states that he often refrains from posting politically sensitive content online. Furthermore, he notes that while international audiences may appreciate satire more openly, domestic viewers can sometimes react sensitively, making certain political topics more challenging to address. Notably, political satire in India has sometimes sparked national controversies. Even recently, stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra faced legal action and public backlash for political comments in his show, which further extended to the vandalization of the venue by a mob, underscoring the risks involved in critiquing powerful entities. Such incidents highlight the precarious balance between humor and freedom of expression in a diverse and politically sensitive nation.

Overall, such instances highlight that cultural dimensions significantly influence humor styles and preferences. Differences in how some cultures may value hierarchy, independence, social harmony, and saving face may affect how humor is perceived. Collectivist cultures, which prioritize group harmony, may view overtly critical or divisive humor as inappropriate. In contrast, individualist cultures often celebrate humor that challenges authority and promotes individual expression. This is further elaborated on by a study that states that in the West, satire that is upward, one that challenges authorities, is usually encouraged. However, with non-Western cultures, especially those with high power distance, humor directed toward authority may not be appreciated.

Political humor, especially in a satirical way, is more than just something that provides comedic relief. It reflects the political scenario that surrounds us at the moment. Understanding how political humor works and differs across cultures is not just limited to academic curiosity. While it can also provide insights into global perspectives on governance, power, and societal values, it can also help understand how citizens relate to it and may even go against the norm of conforming to the norm of abiding to authority. In the current world, where almost everything is digitized and information travels quickly, it’s even more important how different audiences interpret or misinterpret political humor.