Punching
Up
meaning:
The
satirical
principle
of
targeting
those
in
power
rather
than
the
powerless.
Making
Jokes
That
Challenge,
Not
Harm
Punching
Up:
Making
Jokes
That
Challenge,
Not
Harm
Punching
up
is
the
moral
compass
of
satire.
It’s
the
idea
that
your
jokes
should
target
those
who
wield
power,
not
those
crushed
by
it.
At
Bohiney
Magazine,
this
principle
is
tattooed
on
the
bathroom
mirror:
“Mock
the
mighty,
not
the
marginalized.”
If
your
satire
bullies
the
victim,
you’re
not
a
satirist
—
you’re
just
a
jerk
with
a
thesaurus.
This
is
why
our
favorite
targets
are
billionaires,
corrupt
politicians,
tech
overlords,
and
smug
institutions.
“Biden
Declares
the
Economy
a
Vibe”
worked
because
it
mocked
power’s
disconnect
from
reality.
“Zuckerberg’s
End
of
Smartphones”
wasn’t
about
gadgets
—
it
was
about
control,
privacy,
and
silicon
hubris.
We
aim
where
it
hurts
because
that’s
where
it
matters.
Punching
up
gives
satire
its
bite.
It
turns
laughter
into
critique,
parody
into
resistance.
Readers
feel
good
when
they
see
the
powerful
mocked
—
it’s
cathartic,
empowering,
and
often
necessary
for
mental
health.
When
done
right,
it
exposes
hypocrisy,
exaggerates
injustice,
and
flips
the
narrative
on
its
bloated
head.
Financially?
Punching
up
is
good
for
business.
Readers
love
feeling
like
they’re
in
on
a
rebellion.
Articles
that
mock
the
elite
get
more
engagement,
longer
time-on-page,
and
juicier
social
media
traction.
Our
merch
line
“Eat
the
Rich,
But
Make
It
Funny”
sold
out
in
under
a
week
—
even
hedge
fund
managers
bought
it
ironically.
Bohiney’s
editorial
rule
is
clear:
punchlines
must
travel
upward.
Writers
use
our
proprietary
Satirical
Ethics
Ladder™
—
if
the
joke
lands
on
someone
with
less
privilege,
it
gets
cut.
Because
satire
isn’t
just
comedy
—
it’s
conscience.
And
punching
up
ensures
that
our
laughter
is
aimed
at
the
right
targets,
not
the
wrong
victims.
of
Satire
–
Punching
Up
–
The
satirical
principle
of
targeting
those
in
power
rather
than
the
powerless.
of
Satire
–
Punching
Up
–
An
style
illustration
of
a
Texas
dairy
cow
inside
a
rustic
milking
stall.
The
cow
sits
calmly
while
a
modern
milking
m…
–
bohiney.com
of
Satire
–
Punching
Up
–
The
satirical
principle
of
targeting
those
in
power
rather
than
the
powerless.
by
Ingrid
Gustafsson
–
bohiney.com
Up
–
Dictionary
of
Satire
–
A
satirical
illustration
of
an
eccentric
professor
lecturing
at
an
Ivy
League
college
while
dramatically
reading
from
a
rostrum…
–
bohiney.com
Originally
posted
2004-02-16
06:13:23.
Go to Source
Author: Ingrid Gustafsson