Laughtivism in Politics

By: Matthew Ricks

Political campaigns or movements seem to pair really well with Laughtivism because it is fairly easy to make fun of

certain campaigns. There are meme movements and several examples of different uses of political laughtivism such as the “anyone but Trump” and the “White Flour!” campaign protesting the neo-Nazi movement. Laughtivism is a described by Natalija Janesa as being, “used as a term to describe a social action, which is presented in a humoristic way. It is a form of activism that instead of anger is based on fun. Laughtivism can be a very powerful strategy if used creatively and with complete and current knowledge of the topic.” Donald Trump is probably the easiest candidate in this year’s presidential election because he is by far the easiest to ridicule through laughtivism. Trump’s campaign slogan is “Make America Great Again,” yet his list of failures goes on and on, you have Trump Airlines (failed), Trump Casino (failed), Trump Mortgage (failed), Trump University (failed), and Trump couldn’t even drink away his numerous failures and frauds with Trump Vodka… because it also failed! The series of laughtivist protests against Trump appear to of at most work and at the least not harmed because according to CNN almost 6 out of every 10 voters view Trump unfavorably (59%). He is easy to target because people don’t like him, so they laugh him off and campaign against him with Laughtivism and it is working because according to Real Clear Politics Hillary Clinton is whooping Donald Trump head to head in every poll by an average of about 9 points. Real Clear Politics also has Bernie Sanders beating Donald Trump in the polls by approximately 15 points! Mladen and Popovic state that, “There is a reason why humor is infusing the arsenal of the 21st-century protestor: It works. For one, humor breaks fear and builds confidence. It also adds a necessary cool factor, which helps movements attract new members.”

            To get a more personal perspective on the use of laughtivism I asked my good friend political enthusiast, Sean O’Sullivan. I asked Sean what he thinks of the use of laughtivisim and its effects on politics. Sean stated that, “It can be easy to get caught up in a campaign like that because of the exciting nature around it. It can be fun to mock Trump through laughtivism, but you have to be careful that you know all of the facts about who is being targeted if you are looking in from the outside so that you are not swayed by untruths because they are funny.”

            In conclusion, Laughtivism can be a good tool in politics for anti-campaigns in order to

laugh off what one feels as political non-sense and show un-approval for political actions someone disagrees with. On the other hand it can be a way for millennials to just sit behind the comfort of their own screens and mock things they disagree with because it “offends them” and they need a “safe space.” However, humor can be a great tool and is hilarious when it comes to politics. Nothing quite beats a picture of a dog with a Trump wig speaking what Trump is saying.

Sources:

“2016 Presidential Race” Real Clear Politics. 14 April 2016. Web. 24 April 2016.

Aglesta, Jennifer. “National poll: Clinton, Sanders both top Trump.” CNN. 2 March 2016. Web. 24               April 2016.

Janesa, Natalija. “Why Laugtivisim is so effective and what role the Internet plays in it.” New Media           Activism. 24 February 2016. Web. 24 April 2016.

Joksic, Mladen and Srdja Popovic. “Why Dictators Don’t Like Jokes.” Foreign Policy. 5 April 2013.            Web. 24 April 2016.

O’Sullivan, Sean. Interview by Matthew Ricks. 24 April 2016. Phone.

Cortlyn Buck
Generational Insight Interview of Laughtivism in Politics

Politics can be a sensitive subject for some, especially when you incorporate humor into the equation.  Laughtivism certainly isn't the first thing that comes to mind when politics is a topic of discussion, but from what I've found from my interviews, it seems that politicians' sense of  humor can aid them in many ways.

I targeted middle aged, college educated, middle-class individuals for the purpose of gaining insight about what they thought of laughtivism in politics with the result of mostly positive responses. When it comes to winning votes or gaining acceptance, I found that comedic statements utilized by politicians can ease tension and make them more relatable. On the other hand, an attempt of laughtivism in the wrong place at the wrong time can make for a fairly awkward situation, and have negative outcomes overall.

Political debates are typically tense and can get heated easily. We have all seen how certain individuals use humor to deflect a question they don't want to answer, poke fun at their opponent, or even flat out disrespect another party. From my interviews, the main response I received was about using laughtivism in moderation, and in appropriate situations. The overall effectiveness of this topic depends on a number of factors including cultural boundaries, audience, and scope of the situation.

Political scenarios are serious and important in mostly all instances.  Laughtivism allows for a slight break in the usually somber and humorless areas of politics. Comedians like Jimmy Fallon find light and comedic relief in otherwise dark and strict circumstances and even invite politicians to participate in the antics on their talk shows.

Throughout our nation's history, laughtivism in politics has always been incorporated at some level. According to my research, the key to whether or not it can benefit the user depends on the context, and how effective they are in utilizing humor when it is needed most.

Veronica Phillips 
Laughtivism in Politics 
April 24th, 2016 

Humor & Laughtivism in "Humor as a Serious Strategy of Nonviolent Resistance to Oppression"

 As we learned about OTPOR and studied laughtivism during this weeks lecture, I have found that many people have used humor and laughtivism as a way to cope throughout World War 2 in the article, “Humor as a Serious Strategy of Nonviolent Resistance to Oppression” written by Majken Sorensen. This article shows how having a sense of humor during a tragic event can allow you to decrease the use of negativity. Sorensen quotes, “Although an increased pressure raises the chances of repression, paradoxically the use of humor reduces fear within the resistance movement.” This quotes shows how the posters that were portraying Hitler as very weak and un-knowledgeable also showed a sense of propaganda. This gave the viewers who had any sort of family or friend that was apart of the war a feeling of security. When propaganda was shown within the posters to individuals, it allowed them to decrease fear and increase their confidence of that particular situation. This also relates to lecture and how Dr. Tarvin explains OTPOR. OTPOR is not only used to reduce fear of the regime, but to also turn oppression upside down. This relates to the article because having humor during this time allowed everyone to view their terrible situations into a positive light, while turning oppression into something that is viewed differently. Humor and laughtivism are essential and shown throughout this article as something that makes this time period less stressful and more understandable. Using humor and laughtivism is a way to not only lighten up the mood, but to make the world a better place in situations as the described in the article.

Citation:

Sorensen, Majken Jul. Humor as a Serious Strategy of Nonviolent Resistance to Oppression. N.p.: Blackwell Limited, n.d. Print.

Laughtivism- Politics

Corrina Benavides
Le faux Soir- November 1943

In a daring move of Belgium resistance to Nazi Germany, a satirical edition of the Brussels newspaper, Le Soir, was distributed as a substitute for the actual paper. Prior to the publication, Nazi troops occupied Brussels and took over the newspaper. Though many did not may much attention to the articles, they were filled with propaganda, many still bought the newspaper. The goal of the paper was it have it published on November 11th, the day WWI had officially ended. They created am official looking paper that resistance fighters individually distributed across Brussels and its suburbs. Every single article within the article made fun of Nazi propaganda and of the rationing. Four of the ten members arrested for releasing and creating the newspaper were sent to concentration camps, with two of them never returning.

Though the newspaper did very little to contribute to the defeat of the Nazis, it helped boost moral within the Brussels area. The individuals at the time were being starved, randomly searched and arrested and being stolen from. The resistance provided them an outlet in a dark time. The Nazis could do little but punish those who contributed to the newspaper. But because of it's success, they were laughed at and their power/threatening presence was reduced. It employed the basics of laughtivism, but did not fully contribute to the downfall of the dictatorship. The move was bold and effective nonetheless.

Laughivism in Poltics Aurora Silva

Aurora Silva

George W. Bush is infamous for his slur of puns. "Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame , uh, just don't do it again" was recently introduced in a J. Cole song and it is one line that many people continuously laugh at. Although he graduated from Yale and was a famous cheerleader, his speeches as president seemed to always lack a proof read. He wasn't one to use his one liners correctly and often mispronounced his words. As a lot of other politicians, Bush appeared on SNL.  Many remember Will Ferrel imitating him and playing him off as a true Texan boy who really didn't have many brains.

Although this may seem offensive outside of an SNL setting, many audience members laugh at the jokes and skits that are based around George W. Bush. In many skits, Ferrell even laughed at things that he was saying because they were very humorous and really represented the speeches that Bush gave. Many other politicians are roasted on SNL and it creates wonderful skits that everyone can laugh at.

In leadership, leaders often know their flaws before others even point them out. Therefore, when coworkers are the first ones to poke fun at what flaws each leader expresses freely. It seems that being roasted or made fun of by those you work with really makes for a good laugh and it brings everyone down to the same level and makes them more hunan & flawed. Laughing at oneself adds to humility and makes those who follow you feel more comfortable and relatable to those in higher positions.

The Role of Play – Elections

By: Matthew Ricks

Donald Trump

No political candidate is better at using the role of play to their advantage than the business mogul himself, Mr. Donald Trump. “The Donald” is known for his outlandish statements that draw attention all over news media and the cyber world. He mixes name calling with questionable statements and mystery to draw the attention of the entire nation to know the name and be familiar with Donald Trump. A

lready known for his business savvy and wealth, Trump exploits his image with games to control the news media. He constantly commands the “let’s play” narrative with his ability to command the attention of the media with simple statements and accusations. Trump was asked in one of the presidential debates whether he would vote for a GOP candidate if it wasn’t him to which he responded squarely inviting the audience into his role of play, “Even if it’s not me!?” Trump is the essence of political mind games and uses them and outrageous comments that he may not even believe to gain air time and attention. Donald Trump is one with the mindset of “any publicity is good publicity.” He uses catchy simple phrases to appeal to all audiences against other candidates with name calling such as, “lying Ted,” and “choke artist” for Marco Rubio who has since dropped out of the race. Trump manipulates his audience into his games in order to make other candidates look foolish when the stoop to his level. In Trump talk, he knows games. Great games. Games only he can win. 

Donald Trump, Meme King

2008 gave us an election with media presence like no other, with Barack Obama winning largely due to grass root support generated through the use of the new media. Videos, and various visual memes propelled someone who, at one point, had an outside shot at the White House, into the presidency. Now, with general elections at the cusp of the horizon, we see a far more interesting manipulation of media by a different breed of outsider.

Donald Trump, real estate mogul, writer, and billionaire, has self financed his presidential campaign; waging a populist war against what he portrays as a corrupt, stagnant political system. Despite his political savvy, he holds a massive lead in many of the remaining public polls, up by nearly 30 points in New York, and 10 points in California. He has accomplished this with low costs, rarely airing attack ads, instead taking advantage of a media that has shaped itself around covering his campaign. Trumps grandiose statements, often absurd, gain NBC, CBS, Fox, and MSNBC huge viewer boosts during segments replaying them, and substantial boosts when their panels discuss his policies or antics. Playing off his status as a political loose cannon, the internet has sunk its teeth into his outlandish soundbites and ridiculous personality, creating humorous memes centered around his campaign.

On sites like 4chan and /r/The_Donald publish original content depicting various aspects of the campaign, from images of Ted Cruz as a Rat, Hillary as a corporate shill, and the repetition of various phrases that bear little meaning outside of the community (nimble navigator, centipede, HIGH ENERGY, Lyin Ted, etc..). On these forums, users have used humor to attract new members, and galvanize their status as a group. These online communities mirror Trumps large scale attraction throughout the United States, linking his surprising status as the front runner in the GOP with the prevalence of both his image and his quotes. The more absurd his stances, the more air time his gains, and the American viewing public eats it up, and Americas love of the image is showing more than ever in the ballot box.

The Role of Play- Elections

By: Corrina Benavides
Ted Cruz- The Zodiac Killer

"The Role of Play and Humor in Creative Conflict Management" by Marianella Sclavi, stated that humor must contain not only the play frame but a story and a punchline. This play frame establishes what is real and not real. In order for a child to play war, he must pretend that it is real war while knowing that it is certainly not. There must be a story and during that story, there must be an unexpected shift- the punchline. The story of presidential hopeful, Ted Cruz, being the zodiac killer fits these requirements. The story, the history and background of the candidate, was taken by the internet and refitted with an unexpected shift- the absurd claim that he is the Zodiac Killer. The basis of play is taken into effect with this running internet joke because the audience must take into account what is real and what is not real. The audience must believe that he is the famed killer while knowing that it is certainly not true (the murders were committed in 1968 and 1969, while Cruz was born in 1970). They in turn use this joke to solve any conflicts they may feel with his policies, like the belief that sex toys should be banned, and make light of the situation.

Sclavi also argues that playfulness is not necessarily less productive than seriousness. This leads to the idea that humor is just as effective in workplace environments. Ashley, a friend of mine who is in charge of the Aggie Feminism Club, described that humor was needed in a meeting in which an argument erupted about the presentation of gender quality. In order to ease the tension between the other executives, and maintain a productive environment, she had to intricately place certain jokes throughout the meeting. 

Veronica Phillips

April 10^th, 2016

Humor – 50 First Dates

Good humor is a tonic for mind and body. It is the best antidote for anxiety and depression. It is a business asset. It attracts and keeps friends. It lightens human burdens. It is the direct route to serenity and contentment.

-Grenville Kleiser

Humor is a drug that brings laughter into any type of environment weather its professional, social, or personal. Having a sense of humor shows what type of individual you are as well as how you are able to connect with others around you in various settings while even decreasing various conflict situations. Humor is something everyone is able to connect through no matter what race, sex, or opinion you value. If someone gives off some sort of humor those around him or her are able to connect through that humor no matter if it is given in a negative or positive way.

In the movie 50 First Dates starting Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore humor is shown throughout the film by using self-enhancing humor. Although Drew Barrymore is shown as a character that lost her memory due to a car crash and is not able to remember what happens day after day, Adam Sandler uses a sense of self-enhancing humor to find the amusement through the challenges she face daily. By using self-enhancing humor throughout this film, Sandler and Barrymore are able to connect on a level of which she thought she would never have a chance to connect on due to her condition. By using self-enhancing humor to build a relationship they are able to find the love out of life and within each other rather than to focus on the trials she face.    

Another type of humor that these characters are also able to connect through is affiliative humor. In order to build a relationship with Barrymore, Sandler had to connect with her positively. By using affiliative humor to establish a relationship, Barrymore was able to notice the personality as well as the sense of humor Sandler has. When using this type of humor in this film Sandler came off as very welcoming and approachable which lead to creating a shared positive experience with Barrymore.

Using both self-enhancing and affiliative humor throughout this film allowed the characters to connect with each other as well as the viewers.         

Humor to Negate Conflict – Good Will Hunting

Cortlyn Buck

Humor to Negate Conflict – Good Will Hunting

“Good humor is one of the preservatives of our peace and tranquility.” – Thomas Jefferson.

Although we may not consciously know it, connections among people are made stronger through laughter. Humor itself simply brings people together, and helps build and maintain relationships with others. Regardless of where you may be from, your ethnicity, sex, or race, humor is a universal aspect of our lives that we all value.

Humor also has the extraordinary capability of dissolving conflict. This can be done in a number of ways, and different types of humor are utilized in this manner depending on the situation.

In the movie Good Will Hunting, starring Matt Damon and Robin Williams, affiliative humor is first introduced during a therapy session between these two actors. The conflict arises when there is a lack of respect and an absence of a mutual connection between the two individuals, making the therapy session very ineffective. As the two pick and pry amongst each other throughout the film, a connection is made through the use of affiliative humor in common past experiences that they both share. This type of humor is one that creates a platform for relationships through commonalities and produces a more comfortable, trusting environment.

This movie also depicts a perfect example of self-enhancing humor, which is all about finding amusement in the challenges we face throughout our lives. Matt Damon plays an orphan with an extraordinary mathematical gift who struggles with issues of abandonment; While Robin Williams plays a lonely therapist who lost the love of his life to severe illness. Matt learns to find his identity with the help of Robin’s wit and sense of humor, and even Robin learns to reminisce in the good times he had with his wife before she passed with the help of the youthful Matt.

Although not at first, the two make peace and eventually learn from one another as they discover the optimism in their unique situations, while having a few laughs along the way.

Work cited:

Jennifer Connolly, Kyla Baird, Valeriya Bravo, Benedicte Lovald, Debra Pepler & Wendy Craig (2015) Adolescents' use of affiliative and aggressive strategies during conflict with romantic partners and best-friends, European Journal of Developmental Psychology, 12:5, 549-564, DOI: 10.1080/17405629.2015.1066244

Humor in Father of the Bride Aurora silva

Aurora Silva


Humor can be used to bring people together or even ease the pain of upcoming news. In "Father of the Bride" George Banks uses his humor to ease the transition of his daughter Annie getting married. There are many ups and downs throughout the movie which creates a humorous feeling while watching the story unfold. Throughout the entire plot, Steve Martin uses more aggressive humor towards his new son in law. He tries his best to be intimidating, manly, and like an alpha of the household.

Instead of creating an intimidating facade, George Banks ends up using self defeating humor to earn more sympathy from his wife and daughter as he has a mid life crisis. In the midst of the movie, he buys himself a new car, gets a new haircut, and looks like the man of the town. This soon comes to an end when him and his daughter have a heart to heart talk in the refrigerator light about how much his daughter Annie means to him.

At the end of the movie, the humor changes to affiliative and we see that George is back to his silly self. He watches his daughter leave with her new husband after their father/daughter dance together. The audience gets a warm sense of happiness at the cheerful and light hearted ending of the movie. The humor fluctuates throughout this movie which allows the audience to see the different types of humor and how they relate to each scene and each character.