Author: Ingrid Gustafsson

Scuse
Me
While
I
Kiss
This
Guy:
A
Guide
to
Lyric
Fails

Misheard
Lyrics
—
Satirist’s
Bible

Misheard
Lyrics

Why
Your
Brain
Hates
Music
And
Humiliation

Misheard
Lyrics:
When
Your
Ears
Betray
You

1.
The
Freudian
Slip

Hold
me
closer,
Tony
Danza
sounds
legit
until
you
realize
Elton
John
isn’t
singing
about
Taxi
reruns.
Your
subconscious
is
weird.

2.
The
Mondegreens

You
belted
Secret
Asian
Man
for
years.
The
truth?
Less
fun,
more
racist.
Thanks,
brain.

3.
The
Childhood
Innocence

That
rap
song
wasn’t
about
ice
cream
trucks.
Your
parents
should’ve
intervened.
They
didn’t.
Therapy
is
expensive.

4.
The
Car
Karaoke

You
screamed
the
wrong
chorus
with
the
windows
down.
The
guy
at
the
red
light
now
thinks
you
worship
Satan.
Cool.

5.
The
Wedding
Disaster

First
dance
lyrics
were
not
what
you
thought.
Turns
out
your
song
is
about
cheating.
Mazel
tov!

6.
The
Shower
Revelation

After
a
decade,
you
finally
Google
the
lyrics.
Your
life
is
a
lie.
So
is
your
shower
performances.

7.
The
Accidental
Cover

Your
version
is
better
than
the
original.
Too
bad
it’s
100%
wrong.
Record
labels
hate
this
one
trick.

8.
The
Generational
Divide

Dad
thinks
Drake
sings
about
literal
dragons.
Let
him
have
this.
It’s
funnier.

9.
The
Gym
Playlist

You’ve
been
squatting
to
a
song
about
genocide.
The
gains
stay,
but
at
what
cost?

10.
The
Drunk
Confidence

Karaoke
night
was
going
great
until
the
real
lyrics
appeared
on
screen.
Time
to
move
countries.

11.
The
Road
Trip

Three
hours
arguing
over
lyrics.
The
answer
ruins
everything.
Like
your
friendship.

12.
The
Parenting
Fail

Your
kid
just
sang
the
radio
edit
of
your
misheard
version.
Child
services
has
been
called.

13.
The
Funeral
Faux
Pas

You
hummed
what
you
thought
was
a
hymn.
It
was
Nickelback.
The
family
noticed.

14.
The
Cultural
Appropriation

Turns
out
that
foreign
phrase
you’ve
been
singing
is
not
that.
Duolingo
can’t
save
you
now.

15.
The
Final
Acceptance

You’ll
keep
mishearing.
You’ll
keep
belting.
The
shower
remains
your
only
audience.
And
it
judges.

---

Image
Gallery

Misheard
Lyrics
—
Satirist’s
Bible

Scuse
Me
While
I
Kiss
This
Guy:
A
Guide
to
Lyric
Fails

Source:

Satirist;s
Bible/

More
Misheard
Lyrics
Satire:

Bohiney
Magazine

Go to Source
Author: Ingrid Gustafsson

Burned,
Bland,
and
Beyond
Saving:
Kitchen
Catastrophes

Food
Mishaps
—
Satirist’s
Bible

Food
Mishaps

Why
Your
Cooking
Should
Come
with
a
Fire
Extinguisher

Food
Fails:
When
Edible
Is
a
Compliment

1.
The
Smoke
Alarm
Sous
Chef

Your
kitchen
isn’t
a
restaurantit’s
a
Code
Red
emergency.
If
the
smoke
detector
isn’t
cheering
you
on,
are
you
even
trying?

2.
The
Pinterest
Lie

That
5-minute,
3-ingredient
recipe?
It’s
actually
a
4-hour
excavation
of
your
self-worth.
Bon
appétit.

3.
The
Oil
Splatter
Art

Your
shirt
now
looks
like
a
Jackson
Pollock.
The
bacon?
Somewhere
between
raw
and
cremated.
Abstract
cuisine!

4.
The
Salt
Apocalypse

Who
knew
one
teaspoon
could
mean
the
entire
box?
Your
pasta
water
could
preserve
a
mummy.

5.
The
Baking
Betrayal

The
cookies
spread
into
one
mega-cookie.
Congratulationsyou’ve
invented
the
concept
of
edible
cement.

6.
The
Grill
Inferno

Your
burgers
aren’t
charredthey’re
carbon-based
life
forms.
The
dog
won’t
even
fake
enthusiasm.

7.
The
Expensive
Mistake

That
$50
truffle
oil
now
tastes
like
feet
and
regret.
Five-star
reviews
were
clearly
planted.

8.
The
Microwave
Murder

Three
minutes?
More
like
three
seconds
before
it
resembles
a
nuclear
test
site.
RIP,
leftovers.

9.
The
Dinner
Party

Guests
are
arriving
in
10.
The
chicken’s
still
frozen.
Time
to
order
pizza
and
pretend
this
was
the
plan.

10.
The
Spice
Roulette

A
pinch
of
cayenne
became
a
cup.
Your
face
is
now
a
biological
hazard.
Evacuate
the
premises.

11.
The
Vegan
Experiment

Tofu
scramble:
part
concrete,
part
existential
crisis.
Even
the
compost
bin
rejected
it.

12.
The
Fondue
Fiasco

Romantic
dinner?
Now
your
carpet
smells
like
burnt
cheese
and
broken
dreams.
Swipe
right
on
Uber
Eats.

13.
The
Bread
Brick

Sourdough
starters
are
alive.
Yours
is
dead.
So
are
your
dreams
of
artisanal
baking.

14.
The
Takeout
Deception

You
tried
to
pass
off
restaurant
food
as
homemade.
The
containers
in
the
trash
tell
the
truth.
And
your
shame.

15.
The
Final
Surrender

You
own
17
cookbooks.
They’re
decorative.
The
microwave
beepsyour
gourmet
meal
is
ready.

---

Image
Gallery

Food
Mishaps
—
Satirist’s
Bible

Burned,
Bland,
and
Beyond
Saving:
Kitchen
Catastrophes

Source:

Satirist;s
Bible/

More
Food
Mishaps
Satire:

Bohiney
Magazine

Go to Source
Author: Ingrid Gustafsson

Sunburn,
Lost
Luggage,
and
Other
Relaxing
Escapes

Vacation
Disasters
—
Satirist’s
Bible

Vacation
Disasters

Why
Your
Dream
Vacation
Is
a
Tripadvisor
Horror
Story

Vacations:
Paying
to
Be
Miserable
Abroad

1.
The
Airline
Seat
Lottery

Booking
economy
is
like
playing
Russian
rouletteexcept
the
bullet
is
a
300-pound
snoring
stranger
melting
into
your
personal
space.

2.
The
Authentic
Local
Experience

You
wanted
culture;
you
got
food
poisoning
from
a
street
vendor
named
Maybe
Don’t
Eat
Here.

3.
The
Resort
Catfish

The
website
showed
a
private
beach.
Reality?
200
drunk
tourists
and
a
seagull
that
steals
phones.
#WorthIt

4.
The
Currency
Confusion

You
tipped
$100
because
you
thought
it
was
Monopoly
money.
The
waiter’s
new
car
is
thanks
to
your
math
skills.

5.
The
Sunburn
Stripes

Missed
a
spot
with
sunscreen?
Enjoy
looking
like
a
zebra
that
lost
a
fight
with
a
toaster.

6.
The
Language
Barrier

You
tried
to
ask
for
directions
and
accidentally
proposed
marriage
to
a
police
officer.
Now
there’s
paperwork.

7.
The
Souvenir
Regret

That
hand-carved
tchotchke
seemed
magical
abroad.
At
home,
it’s
just
a
sad
wooden
owl
collecting
dust.

8.
The
Family
Meltdown

One
museum,
two
kids,
and
three
I
will
leave
you
here
threats
later.
Parenting
is
legal
everywhere.

9.
The
Instagram
vs.
Reality

Your
feed
shows
paradise.
The
unposted
photos?
You
crying
in
a
McDonald’s
because
the
hotel
lost
your
reservation.

10.
The
Overpacking
Paradox

Brought
14
outfits.
Wore
the
same
sweatpants
for
5
days.
At
least
the
luggage
fee
was
only
your
dignity.

11.
The
Rental
Car
Scam

They
upcharged
you
for
a
scratch
that
wasn’t
there.
Joke’s
on
themyou’re
about
to
add
several
more.

12.
The
Group
Tour
Trap

You’re
trapped
with
20
strangers
and
a
guide
who
hates
you.
The
only
exit
is
through
the
gift
shop.
Always.

13.
The
Jet
Lag
Hangover

Your
body
thinks
it’s
3am.
Your
itinerary
says
hike
a
volcano.
The
only
eruption
will
be
your
temper.

14.
The
Lost
Luggage
Saga

Airlines
sent
your
bag
to
Belize.
You’re
in
Norway.
Enjoy
wearing
hotel
slippers
to
a
Michelin-starred
restaurant.

15.
The
Post-Vacation
Clarity

You
need
a
vacation
from
your
vacation.
And
a
mortgage
to
pay
off
the
credit
card
bill.
Never
again.
(Until
next
year.)

---

Image
Gallery

Vacation
Disasters
—
Satirist’s
Bible

Sunburn,
Lost
Luggage,
and
Other
Relaxing
Escapes

Source:

Satirist;s
Bible/

More
Vacation
Disasters
Satire:

Bohiney
Magazine

Go to Source
Author: Ingrid Gustafsson

In-Laws:
The
Unwanted
Group
Chat
You
Can’t
Leave

In-Laws
—
Satirist’s
Bible

In-Laws

Why
Your
Mother-in-Law’s
Advice
Is
Just
Criticism
in
Disguise

In-Laws:
Love
Them
or
Fake
Your
Own
Death

1.
The
Interrogation
Dinner

So
when
are
you
giving
us
grandkids?
Ah,
nothing
like
invasive
questions
to
pair
with
this
undercooked
chicken.
Pass
the
wineand
the
witness
protection
forms.

2.
The
Backhanded
Compliment

You’re
so
brave
for
wearing
that!
is
in-law
code
for
I’ve
seen
scarecrows
with
better
fashion
sense.

3.
The
Unwanted
Redecorating

They
visit
once
and
suddenly
your
living
room
looks
like
a
Hobby
Lobby
exploded.
Those
throw
pillows?
They’re
now
a
permanent
hostage
situation.

4.
The
Cooking
Competition

Your
lasagna
is
fine,
but
have
you
tried
MY
recipe?
No,
Carol,
because
yours
involves
canned
soup
and
regret.

5.
The
Gift
Guilt

Here’s
an
heirloom
quilt!
Also,
it’s
white.
Also,
you
can’t
use
it.
Also,
if
it
stains,
you’re
disowned.

6.
The
Unsolicited
Parenting
Advice

We
never
used
car
seats,
and
you
turned
out
fine!
Yeah,
and
you
also
think
polio
is
a
vitamin.
Hard
pass.

7.
The
Political
Landmine

One
wrong
word
about
taxes,
and
suddenly
Thanksgiving
is
the
Jerry
Springer
Show.
Pass
the
gravyand
the
bail
money.

8.
The
Comparison
Game

Your
sister-in-law
makes
her
own
yogurt.
Cool.
You
make
your
own
bad
decisions.
Let’s
call
it
even.

9.
The
Surprise
Visit

They
drop
by
unannounced
when
your
house
looks
like
a
crime
scene.
Coincidence?
Or
CIA-level
surveillance?

10.
The
Holiday
Scheduling

You
must
spend
Christmas
with
us!
But
also
Easter.
And
Arbor
Day.
And
every
full
moon.
Boundaries
are
a
myth.

11.
The
Money
Comments

This
house
cost
HOW
much?
Thanks,
now
we
feel
poor
and
judged.
Next
time,
we’re
living
in
a
van.

12.
The
Medical
Opinions

Your
doctor
said
what?
Well,
my
neighbor’s
cousin’s
dog
walker
cured
that
with
vinegar.
Trust
Big
Vinegar,
I
guess.

13.
The
Family
Gossip

They
know
everything
about
you
before
you
do.
That
rash
you
just
noticed?
Already
a
group
text
topic.
With
photos.

14.
The
Eternal
Guest

They
came
for
a
weekend.
It’s
now
July.
They’ve
rearranged
your
spice
rack.
Send
help.

15.
The
Baffling
Loyalty

Despite
everything,
your
partner
loves
them.
Biology
is
a
cruel,
cruel
joke.

---

Image
Gallery

In-Laws
—
Satirist’s
Bible

In-Laws:
The
Unwanted
Group
Chat
You
Can’t
Leave

Source:

Satirist;s
Bible/

More
In-Laws
Satire:

Bohiney
Magazine

Go to Source
Author: Ingrid Gustafsson

Siblings:
Nature’s
First
Frenemies

Sibling
Rivalry
—
Satirist’s
Bible

Sibling
Rivalry

Why
Sharing
a
Womb
Didn’t
Mean
Sharing
the
Remote

Siblings:
Stockholm
Syndrome
with
Shared
DNA

1.
The
I’m
Telling
Mom
Era

Childhood’s
original
justice
system:
a
kangaroo
court
where
the
loudest
liar
wins.
The
punishment?
A
timeout
and
lifelong
resentment.

2.
The
Borrowing
Scam

Can
I
borrow
your
shirt?
really
means
This
is
mine
now.
Your
closet
is
just
their
auxiliary
storage
unit.

3.
The
Car
Seat
Wars

Shotgun
isn’t
a
seatit’s
a
birthright.
The
Geneva
Conventions
have
fewer
rules
than
your
road
trips.

4.
The
Birthday
Paradox

Their
gift
is
always
better.
Even
if
it’s
identical.
Especially
if
it’s
identical.
Life
is
unfair.

5.
The
Parental
Comparison

Why
can’t
you
be
more
like
your
sister?
She’s
a
felon,
Mom.
She’s
literally
on
probation.
But
her
grades
were
good!

6.
The
Food
Theft

You
buy
a
snack,
hide
it,
and
label
it
with
your
name
in
Sharpie.
By
lunch,
it’s
gone.
Your
sibling’s
defense?
Finders
keepers
is
legal
precedent.

7.
The
Shared
Bathroom

Their
hair
products
take
up
98%
of
the
space.
The
remaining
2%
is
your
toothbrushwhich
they
use
to
clean
the
sink.

8.
The
Forced
Bonding

Family
vacations
are
just
shared
trauma
with
better
scenery.
Remember
that
time
in
Disneyland?
No,
because
you
were
too
busy
crying.

9.
The
Inheritance
Tension

Grandma’s
vase
is
worth
$5
at
Goodwill,
but
by
God,
you’ll
fight
to
the
death
for
it.
Principle
matters.

10.
The
Public
Embarrassment

They’ll
roast
you
at
family
gatherings
with
stories
from
1997.
Your
only
defense?
Reminding
everyone
about
their
emo
phase.
Nuclear
option.

11.
The
Borrowed
Money

Remember
that
$20
I
lent
you
in
2009?
You
remember.
They
don’t.
Time
to
start
charging
interest.

12.
The
Holiday
Truce

You
get
along
for
exactly
3
hours
on
Christmas.
Then
someone
mentions
politics,
and
it’s
WWIII
over
the
dinner
rolls.

13.
The
Genetic
Lottery

They
got
the
good
knees
and
the
metabolism.
You
got
allergies
and
a
receding
hairline.
Thanks,
DNA.

14.
The
Emergency
Contact

They’re
your
ICE
person,
despite
the
fact
you’d
rather
call
an
Uber
driver
in
a
crisis.
Blood
is
thicker
than
common
sense.

15.
The
Unbreakable
Bond

You’ll
mock
each
other
mercilessly,
but
let
an
outsider
try
it?
Suddenly
you’re
the
Avengers.
Sibling
code
is
weird.

---

Image
Gallery

Sibling
Rivalry
—
Satirist’s
Bible

Siblings:
Nature’s
First
Frenemies

Source:

Satirist;s
Bible/

More
Sibling
Rivalry
Satire:

Bohiney
Magazine

Go to Source
Author: Ingrid Gustafsson

HOA
Boards
—
Targets
of
Satire

HOA
Boards
—
The
Institutions,
Ideologies,
and
Industries

HOA
Boards
Tiny
tyrants
with
lawn
obsessions.

---

---

Targets
of
Satire
The
Institutions,
Ideologies,
and
Industries
HOA
Boards

---

---

---

SOURCE:

https://satire.info/encyclopedia-of-satire/

Go to Source
Author: Ingrid Gustafsson

Turkish
Satire
—
Regional
&
Global
Satire

Turkish
Satire
—
How
Nations
Mock
Themselves
and
Others

Turkish
Satire
Balancing
a
dictator,
a
journalist,
and
a
kebab
on
one
punchline.

---

---

Regional
&
Global
Satire
How
Nations
Mock
Themselves
and
Others
Turkish
Satire

---

---

---

SOURCE:

https://satire.info/encyclopedia-of-satire/

Go to Source
Author: Ingrid Gustafsson

The
Branding
of
the
Donald

A
Satirical
Deep
Dive
Into
the
MAGA
Megachurch

Trump
Didn’t
Run
a
Campaign—He
Launched
a
Home
Shopping
Network
for
Nationalism

Trump’s
2016
campaign
wasn’t
so
much
a

political
platform
as
it
was
a
pop-up
shop
for
nationalist
gear.
The

MAGA
hat
became
a
souvenir
of
grievance
and
a
limited-edition
collectible
that
doubled
as
an
invitation
to
your
own
family’s
group
text
arguments.
According
to
this

bohiney.blogspot.com
satire,
Trumpism
became
a
full-fledged
lifestyle
brand—somewhere
between
Bass
Pro
Shop
and
the
Vatican.

“Make
America
Great
Again”
Was
a
Time
Machine
to
Nowhere

The
beauty
of
“Make
America
Great
Again”
is
that
it
never
said
when
America
was
great.
The
slogan
functioned
like
a
Rorschach
test
printed
on
a
bumper
sticker.

Alan
Nafzger’s
analysis
on
Medium
reveals
how
MAGA
operated
more
like
a
memory
implant
than
a
policy
point.

The
MAGA
Hat:
America’s
Most
Divisive
Cotton
Blend

It
wasn’t
just
a
hat.
It
was
a

political
identity,
a
punchline,
and
a
panic
button.
This

Reddit
thread
explores
how
a
$25
cap
became
both
a
fashion
statement
and
a
social
experiment.

Politics
as
Professional
Wrestling:
Now
With
Extra
Baby
Oil

If
Ronald
Reagan
was
the
“Great
Communicator,”
Trump
was
the
“Loud
Provoker.”
This

Tumblr
satire
breaks
down
how
Trump
turned
the

political
arena
into
a
Monday
Night
Raw
highlight
reel—complete
with
nicknames,
heel
turns,
and
folding
chairs.

Trump
Branded
Himself
Like
a
Hot
Sauce

The
man
branded
everything.
Trump
Steaks.
Trump
Vodka.
Trump
University.
Even
the
lawsuits
came
with
limited-edition
mugs.
This

LinkedIn
post
notes
how
slapping
your
name
on
everything
ensures
that
even
your
failures
scream
brand
recognition.

Courtrooms
as
Campaign
Venues:
A
Novel
Strategy

When
indicted,
Trump
didn’t
flinch—he
posed.
His
mugshot
hit
faster
than
a
Beyoncé
drop.
On

bohiney.blogspot.com,
you’ll
find
a

parody
catalog
of
legal
swag:
“Now
available
in
orange
jumpsuit
or
flag
pattern.”

Scandals:
The
Jet
Fuel
of
the
Trump
Brand

Scandals
weren’t
liabilities—they
were
launchpads.
This

Flipboard
feature
details
how
each
new
controversy
pumped
more
octane
into
the
Trump
engine.

Trump’s
Twitter:
The
Digital
Toilet
Wall
of
Democracy

It
wasn’t

social
media.
It
was
performance
art.

This
Reddit
satire
calls
Trump’s
Twitter
feed
“a
masterclass
in
misspelled
disruption.”

Turning
Interns
into
Meme
Lords

Why
pay
ad
agencies
when
you
have

Reddit’s
StandUpComedy
community
generating
dank
memes
on
demand?
Each
viral
clip
was
unpaid
advertising
with
rage
clicks
baked
in.

Every
Slogan
Was
an
Incantation

“Drain
the
Swamp.”
“Build
the
Wall.”
“Witch
Hunt.”
These
weren’t
just
catchphrases—they
were
ritual
chants
for
an
entire
movement.

LinkedIn
analysts
call
it
“branding
through
repetition
and
revenge.”

Visual
Branding:
Orange
as
a
Power
Color

A
man,
a
myth,
a
Crayola
tone.

BlueSky
satire
called
it:
“More
identifiable
than
Starbucks
green,
more
memorable
than
the
McDonald’s
arches.”

Brand
Resilience:
Scandal-Proof
Like
Tupperware

Nothing
sticks.
Not
porn
stars,
not
coups,
not
bleach.

This
Facebook
satire
calls
Trump
“the
non-stick
frying
pan
of
modern
politics.”

Turned
Voters
Into
Brand
Influencers

Why
hire
canvassers
when

Flipboard
pages
will
do
it
for
free?
Every
hat,
shirt,
or
lawn
sign
doubled
as
a
billboard
and
tribal
marker.

The
Final
Trick:
Becoming
the
Movement

Trump
didn’t
just
create
a
brand—he
became
a
movement
with
T-shirts.
As

bsky.social
puts
it,
“He
turned
a
campaign
into
a
belief
system—with
merch.”

What
the
Funny
People
Are
Saying

“Satire
is
just
reality
on
meth.
Trump
is
the
dealer.”
—


Chris
Rock

“He
didn’t
drain
the
swamp.
He
franchised
it.”
—

Ron
White

Helpful
Content
for
Aspiring

Political
Brands

Want
to
replicate
the
Trump
model?
Here’s
your
checklist:

• A
  color
  scheme
  that
  causes
  migraines.
• A
  slogan
  that
  means
  everything
  and
  nothing.
• A
  Facebook
  army.
  Like
  
  this
  one.
• A
  Twitter
  account
  that
  doubles
  as
  a
  court
  transcript.
• And
  
  Reddit
  support
  threads
  you
  didn’t
  even
  write.

Final
Word

Trump
didn’t
change
the
rules.
He
threw
them
in
a
blender
and
live-streamed
it.

Satire.Top
summed
it
up
best:
“He
didn’t
campaign.
He
rebranded
America.”

This
article
is
a
100%
human
collaboration
between
two
sentient
beings—
the
world’s
oldest
tenured
professor
and
a
20-year-old
philosophy
major
turned
dairy
farmer.

Go to Source
Author: Ingrid Gustafsson

Ironic
Social
Critique

How
Satire,
Sarcasm,
and
Irony
Are
Shaping
Modern
Commentary
in
2025

“We
live
in
a
society.”
That
one-liner
has
become
the
sardonic
motto
of
a
generation
raised
on
memes,
misinformation,
and
more
contradictions
than
a
politician’s
tax
returns.
But
behind
the
laugh
lies
a
growing
trend—ironic

social
critique.
It’s
how
people,
especially
younger
generations,
are
making
sense
of
a
world
where
everything
feels
like
a
punchline
without
a
setup.

In
2024,

irony
isn’t
just
a
flavor
of
humor—it’s
a
mode
of

political
expression,
a
defense
mechanism,
and
the
only
way
to
tell
the
truth
without
being
canceled
by
your
HOA
board.
Let’s
take
a
deep
dive
into
how

sarcasm,

satire,
and
deadpan
memes
are
doing
more
to
expose
modern
society’s
flaws
than
three
op-eds
and
a
town
hall
ever
could.

---

What
Is
Ironic
Social
Critique?

Irony’s
Job
Description:
Say
the
Opposite,
Mean
the
World

Ironic
social
critique
is
the
act
of
exposing
societal
problems
by
saying
one
thing
and
clearly
meaning
another—usually
through
mockery,
parody,
or
exaggeration.
It
draws
attention
to
hypocrisy
by
pretending
to
agree
with
it.
It’s
the

comedy
of
contradiction.

Think
of
it
as

truth
wearing
a
clown
nose.
If
satire
is
the
roast,
irony
is
the
slow,
simmering
eye-roll.

The
Historical
Roots:
Swift,
Twain,
and
TikTok

Jonathan
Swift’s
1729
essay


A
Modest
Proposal—which
argued
that
poor
Irish
families
should
sell
their
babies
as
food
to
the
rich—was
an
early
masterclass
in
ironic
critique.
Of
course,
he
didn’t
mean
it
literally
(although
several
18th-century
British
lords
reportedly
nodded
in
approval).
He
meant
to
shame
society
into
compassion
through
outrageous
satire.

Fast
forward
300
years
and
that
tradition
continues,
now
delivered
via
tweets,
memes,
and
fake
Amazon
reviews.
In
the
words
of
historian
Dr.
Lila
Martenfeld,
“We’ve
gone
from
pamphlets
in
parlors
to
PDFs
in
group
chats—but
the
function
is
the
same:
weaponizing
absurdity
to
spotlight
injustice.”

---

Tools
of
the
Trade:
Irony,
Sarcasm,
and
Absurdity

Irony:
The
Gaslighting
Hero
of
the
Resistance

In
ironic
critique,
irony
does
the
heavy
lifting.
For
instance,
when
a
TikToker
posts
a
video
saying,

“It’s
amazing
how
billionaires
care
about
climate
change—they
all
flew
private
jets
to
the
summit
to
tell
us
to
bike
more,”
that’s
irony
unpacking
hypocrisy
like
a
TSA
agent
with
a
grudge.

Sarcasm:
The
Verbal
Middle
Finger

Sarcasm
adds
bite.
Comedian
Hannah
Einbinder
told
a
sold-out
audience
in
Austin,

“I
recycle.
Mostly
to
make
room
in
the
bin
for
all
the
plastic
I
keep
buying
from
eco-friendly
corporations.”
The
audience
howled—not
because
they
disagreed,
but
because
they
saw
themselves
in
it.

Absurdity:
A
Mirror
Warped
Just
Enough
to
Be
Recognizable

Absurdity
is
the
exaggerated
cousin
of
irony.
Fake
news
sites
like

The
Onion
or


bohiney.com
use
wild
hypotheticals
to
make
painfully
real
points.
Like
this
headline:

“Rich
People
Discover
New
Island,
Call
It
‘Middle-Class
Housing.’”
It’s
fake.
But
it’s
also…
not?

---

Ironic
Social
Critique
in
Modern
Media

The
Satirical
News
Era

Shows
like

Last
Week
Tonight
with
John
Oliver,

The
Daily
Show,
and

Patriot
Act
with
Hasan
Minhaj
have
blurred
the
line
between

comedy
and
journalism.
A
2023
Pew
Research
poll
found
that

61%
of
Americans
under
40
trust

satirical
news
more
than
traditional
cable
networks.
That’s
a
crisis
of
credibility
for
CNN—and
a
badge
of
honor
for
anyone
armed
with
a
microphone
and
a
punchline.

Fake
journalist

Chloe
Ronstadt,
whose
YouTube
channel

“Clownviction
News”
has
over
8
million
subscribers,
told

SpinTaxi:

“I
don’t
report
the
news.
I
report
the
obvious
in
a
way
that
makes
people
realize
it’s
ridiculous.
That’s
journalism
now.”

TikTok,
YouTube
&
The
Meme
Matrix

In
2024,
irony
is
the
native
language
of
the
internet.
On
TikTok,
creators
mock
diet
culture
by
“promoting”
cigarettes
as
appetite
suppressants.
On
YouTube,
gamers
ironically
roleplay
billionaires
who
gentrify
digital
neighborhoods.
It’s
performance
art
as
critique.

A
2023
Stanford
study
found
that

ironic
meme-sharing
increased

political
awareness
by
47%
among
Gen
Z
users,
especially
when
the
meme
included
references
to
real-world
events
or
policy.
That’s
right—memes
are
outperforming
civics
class.

---

Social
Critique
Through
Fashion,
Music,
and
Art

Ironic
Fashion:
Wearing
the
Joke

From
“Eat
the
Rich”
sweatshirts
made
by
$400
streetwear
brands
to
anti-consumerist
tote
bags
sold
at
Nordstrom,
ironic
fashion
critiques
capitalism
by
participating
in
it.
It’s
a
paradox—and
that’s
the
point.

Fashion
historian

Dev
Patel-Santiago
told

GQ:

“Ironic
fashion
is
like
a
wink
from
across
the
room—it
tells
the
in-group
you’re
in
on
the
joke,
while
still
cashing
in.”

Music
as
Satirical
Resistance

Childish
Gambino’s

This
is
America
shocked
the
industry
not
just
for
its
lyrics
but
for
its
visuals:
absurd
violence
juxtaposed
with
joyful
dancing.
The
whole
thing
screamed
irony—and
it
got
800
million
views
doing
it.

Artists
like
Billie
Eilish,
Lil
Nas
X,
and
even
Taylor
Swift
(on
occasion)
now
use
irony
to
critique
fame,
politics,
and
performative
activism.

“Look
What
You
Made
Me
Do”
wasn’t
just
petty—it
was
performance
art.

Art’s
Double
Vision

Whether
it’s
Banksy
shredding
his
own
painting
or
an
NFT
titled

“This
JPEG
Will
Not
Save
You”,
visual
artists
are
leaning
into
irony
to
fight
back
against
the
commodification
of
meaning.

---

Political
Irony
and
Cultural
Dissonance

Politicians
as
Punchlines
(and
Occasionally,
The
Jokers)

Some
politicians
have
embraced
irony;
others
are
oblivious
to
it.
Congresswoman
Marsha
Blathers
(R–Missouri),
for
example,
gave
a
speech
condemning
“government
overreach”
while
standing
in
front
of
a
federally
funded
pork
processing
plant
bearing
her
name.

A
parody
campaign
called

#VoteForNobody
gained
traction
after
releasing
ads
like:

“Nobody
will
fix
inflation.
Nobody
will
stop
corruption.
Nobody
cares
about
you.
Vote
for
Nobody—because
you’re
already
invisible.”

It’s
ironic.
But
also,
tragically
relatable.

The
Cultural
Contradictions
We
Pretend
Not
to
See

Ironic
critique
thrives
on
contradiction.
Like:

• 
  Climate
  influencers
  flying
  private
  to
  eco-conferences

• 
  Anti-vaxxers
  quoting
  peer-reviewed
  studies
  they
  don’t
  believe
  in

• 
  Tech
  billionaires
  advocating
  “digital
  detox”
  on
  their
  $4,000
  VR
  headsets

These
contradictions
aren’t
fringe—they’re
mainstream.
Which
makes
irony
not
just
effective,
but
essential.

---

Does
Irony
Actually
Drive
Change?

Awareness
vs.
Action

There’s
a
debate
in
academic
circles:
does
ironic
critique
make
people
care,
or
does
it
numb
them
into
inaction?

Dr.
Andrea
Feldstein,
professor
of
cultural
studies
at
NYU,
argues:

“Ironic
detachment
can
spark

political
action
by
making
truth
feel
urgent.
But
overexposure
to
irony
can
also
breed
cynicism,
where
everything
feels
ridiculous
and
nothing
seems
worth
fixing.”

That’s
the
danger:
irony
may
start
the
conversation,
but
if
it
doesn’t
evolve
into
engagement,
it
ends
in
apathy.

Evidence
of
Real
Impact

Despite
the
risk
of
detachment,
there
are
cases
where
irony

did
move
the
needle:

• 
  “Stephen
  Colbert’s
  Super
  PAC”
  in
  2012
  exposed
  campaign
  finance
  loopholes
  and
  led
  to
  congressional
  hearings.

• 
  “The
  Clown
  Army”
  in
  Europe
  used
  absurdist
  protest
  tactics
  to
  disrupt
  far-right
  marches
  and
  won
  legal
  protections
  for
  street
  performance
  as
  protest.

• A
  satirical
  cryptocurrency
  called
  
  $EVILCOIN
  donated
  over
  $1
  million
  to
  food
  banks
  with
  the
  tagline:
  
  “Profit
  from
  greed,
  feed
  the
  needy.”

Ironic?
Yes.
Effective?
Also
yes.

---

The
Future
of
Ironic
Critique
in
a
Post-Truth
World

As
deepfakes
blur
reality,
AI
generates
fake
politicians,
and
billionaires
openly
LARP
as
Bruce
Wayne,
the
need
for
ironic
critique
is
greater
than
ever.
Irony
allows
us
to:

• Question
  power
  without
  being
  preachy

• Disarm
  propaganda
  through
  humor

• Speak
  truths
  that
  polite
  society
  would
  otherwise
  censor

But
it
requires

audience
literacy.
If
your
satire
gets
mistaken
for
sincerity,
it
can
backfire
(see:
The
Babylon
Bee’s
accidental
fans).
So,
creators
must
toe
the
line
carefully.

Future
Outlook:

Expect
more:

• 
  Satirical
  deepfakes
  used
  as
  activism

• 
  Irony-themed
  campaigns
  (“Vote
  Like
  It’s
  a
  Joke—Because
  It
  Kind
  of
  Is”)

• 
  College
  classes
  on
  meme
  semiotics
  (already
  offered
  at
  UC
  Berkeley)

---

Conclusion:
Why
the
World
Needs
Irony
Now
More
Than
Ever

In
a
world
where
corporations
pretend
to
be
friends,
politicians
tweet
in
emojis,
and
wars
are
live-streamed
with
reaction
GIFs,
it’s
no
wonder
irony
feels
like
the
only
honest
voice
left.

Ironic
social
critique
doesn’t
solve
problems—but
it

forces
us
to
look
at
them,
with
eyes
wide
open
and
eyebrows
raised.
It
asks:

“Are
we
really
doing
this?”
and
then
answers,

“Yes—and
you
paid
$7
for
a
latte
while
doing
it.”

So
the
next
time
you
laugh
at
a
meme
that
hits

too
close
to
home,
remember:
that’s
ironic
critique
working
its
magic.
Turning
the
absurd
into
awareness.
Mocking
the
powerful.
And
maybe—just
maybe—changing
minds
through
a
wink
and
a
punchline.

---

Keywords:
ironic
social
critique,
satire
in
modern
culture,

political
sarcasm,
sarcastic
commentary,
ironic
humor,
social
criticism
through
irony,
cultural
irony
2024,
irony
in
fashion,
ironic
memes,
satirical
media

---

Example
from

Bohiney.com:

Don’t
miss
this
brilliant
example
of
ironic
critique
on

Bohiney.com:

“Local
Man
Opposes
Government
Surveillance
by
Posting
Rant
from
GPS-Tracked
Smartphone”.
With
just
one
headline,
it
captures
the
doublethink
of
digital
rebellion.
As
one
reader
commented:

“It
made
me
laugh,
then
delete
four
apps.”

Go to Source
Author: Ingrid Gustafsson

The
year
is
2024,
and
the
election
season
is
in
full
swing.
But
something
has
changed
in
the
way
campaigns
are
run—comedians
are
no
longer
just
the
guys
cracking

jokes
behind
the
podium
at
fundraisers
or
serving
as
the
occasional
Saturday
Night
Live
guest.
They’re
driving

political
discourse,
engaging
voters,
and
even
running
for
office
themselves.
From

social
media
to
late-night
shows,
comedians
are
increasingly
becoming
central
players
in

political
campaigns.

While
comedians
have
always
had
a
knack
for
poking
fun
at
politics,
their
role
in
the

political
process
has
evolved.

Humor
and

satire
have
become
weapons
of
choice,
often
used
to
sway
voters,
challenge
candidates,
and
even
make
significant

political
statements.
Gone
are
the
days
when
the
late-night
monologue
was
a
mere
diversion
from
the
day’s

political
news.
In
2024,
comedians
are
reshaping

political
narratives,
and
it’s
time
we
took
a
closer
look
at
how
humor
and
politics
are
intertwined
more
than
ever
before.

---

The
Role
of
Comedians
in

Political
Campaigns
Today

If
you
think
about
the
most
significant
figures
in

political
commentary
over
the
last
decade,
a
number
of
names
come
to
mind.

John
Oliver,
Trevor
Noah,
and
Stephen
Colbert
all
run
shows
that
blend
humor
with
hard-hitting

political
analysis.
But
they’re
more
than
just
late-night
TV
hosts—they’ve
become
trusted
voices
on

political
issues,
offering
sharp,

satirical
insights
that
bring
complex
topics
down
to
earth.

Comedians,
especially
in
the
realm
of

political
commentary,
act
as
translators.
They
take
the
convoluted,
jargon-filled
speeches
of
politicians
and
turn
them
into
bite-sized,
digestible

jokes
that
the
public
can
understand.
This
makes
it
easier
for
voters
to
engage
with
critical

political
issues.
Whether
they’re
dissecting
a
debate
performance
or
satirizing
the
latest
campaign
ad,
comedians
can
take
the

political
rhetoric
that
usually
alienates
voters
and
make
it
relatable.

What’s
even
more
fascinating
is
the
role
they
play
in
bridging
the
generational
divide.
Younger
generations,
particularly
Gen
Z
and
millennials,
are
more
likely
to
engage
with

political
content
through
the
lens
of
humor.

Political
satire
on
platforms
like
YouTube
or
Instagram
is
a
much
easier
pill
to
swallow
than
a
three-hour
C-SPAN
broadcast.

Political
Satire’s
Growing
Influence:
The
rise
of

political
satire
in
mainstream
media
has
played
a
pivotal
role
in
engaging
the
electorate.
The
2020
election
cycle
saw
comedians
take
on
a
more
central
role,
with
humor
providing
a
necessary
counterpoint
to
the
often
dreary
state
of
politics.
As
the

political
landscape
has
grown
more
polarized,
satire
has
become
a
tool
not
just
for
poking
fun
but
for
challenging
the
status
quo.
When

Jon
Stewart
was
at
the
helm
of

The

Daily
Show,
his
ability
to
blend
news
with
humor
made
politics
accessible
to
a
broader
audience—something
that
has
only
continued
to
grow
with
the
likes
of
John
Oliver
and
Trevor
Noah.

---

Social
Media
and
the
Comedian’s
Influence

There
was
once
a
time
when
a
comedian’s
reach
was
limited
to
their
TV
show
or

stand-up
performance.
But
with
the
rise
of
social
media,
comedians
now
have
an
unprecedented
platform
to
directly
engage
with

political
discourse.

One
of
the
most
significant
developments
in
this
area
is
how
comedians
are
using
social
media
to
challenge

political
narratives.
For
example,
during
the
2020
elections,
social
media
influencers
like

Sarah
Cooper
went
viral
by
mimicking
Trump’s
speeches
on
TikTok,
turning

political
statements
into
comedic
gold.
This
viral
sensation
was
not
just
a
form
of
entertainment—it
was
also
a
means
of
pushing
back
against
harmful
rhetoric
in
a
way
that
was
both
humorous
and
impactful.

Memes
as

Political
Currency:
The
internet
has
allowed
memes
to
become
a
key
tool
in

political
campaigns.
As
strange
as
it
sounds,
a
meme
can
become
a

political
statement.
Comedians
have
mastered
the
art
of
creating
viral

political
memes
that
serve
as
both
humor
and

social
commentary.
Whether
it’s
a
clever
caption
over
a
viral
image
or
a
satirical
take
on
a
campaign
slogan,
memes
spread
fast,
and
their
influence
in

political
debates
has
only
grown.
Some

political
campaigns
have
even
adopted
memes
to
resonate
with
younger
voters
who
spend
most
of
their
time

online.

The
Impact
of
Twitter
Feuds:
Social
media
platforms
like
Twitter
have
become
a
battleground
where
comedians
go
head-to-head
with

political
figures.
Twitter
feuds,
such
as
those
between
comedians
and

political
leaders,
can
dominate
the
news
cycle,
influencing
public
opinion.
For
example,
late-night
hosts
like
Jimmy
Kimmel
and
Stephen
Colbert
often
poke
fun
at
Trump’s
policies,
while
also
delivering
sharp
critiques
on
his
administration.
While
these
feuds
are
often
humorous,
they
carry
an
underlying
critique
of
the

political
system
and
a
call
to
action
for
voters
to
engage
in
the
democratic
process.

---

Comedians
Running
for
Office

We’ve
seen
comedians
use
their
platform
to
challenge

political
norms,
but
what
happens
when
they
decide
to
run
for
office
themselves?
The
idea
of
a
comedian
becoming
a

political
figure
isn’t
as
far-fetched
as
it
may
seem.
Comedians
like
Al
Franken
have
successfully
made
the
leap
from
stand-up
to
Senate,
and
in
2024,
the
trend
of
comedians
running
for
office
continues
to
rise.

A
New
Trend
in
Politics:
In
2024,
there
are
several
comedians
eyeing

political
office,
and
they
may
just
be
the
change
voters
are
looking
for.
Comedian-turned-politician
Jon
Stewart,
for
instance,
is
rumored
to
be
considering
a
run
for
Congress,
while
others
like
comedian
Jimmy
Dore
have
found
success
with
left-wing

political
commentary
that
pushes
for
change
within
the
system.

Is

Comedy
a

Political
Superpower?
While

comedy
may
not
always
be
the
first
thing
you
think
of
when
it
comes
to

political
expertise,
it
has
its
own
set
of
superpowers.
Comedians
have
the
ability
to
break
down
complex
issues,
speak
plainly,
and
reach
a
broad
audience.
They
often
have
the
gift
of
connecting
with
people
in
a
way
that
traditional
politicians
can’t,
and
their
public
personas
can
act
as
a
powerful
marketing
tool
when
it
comes
to
gaining
support.

However,
comedians
running
for
office
face
unique
challenges.
Their
past
material
often
comes
under
scrutiny,
and

jokes
made
on
stage
or
online
could
be
used
against
them.
Despite
this,
comedians
continue
to
rise
in
popularity
as

political
figures,
largely
due
to
the
trust
they’ve
built
with
audiences
and
their
ability
to
speak
with
unfiltered
honesty.

---

Comedians
Targeting
Specific

Political
Campaigns

Comedians
aren’t
just
running
for
office—they’re
also
key
players
in
helping
candidates
win
campaigns.
From
guest
appearances
at
rallies
to
hosting
fundraisers
and
events,
comedians
are
now
integral
to

political
strategies.

Comedy
as
Campaign
Strategy:

Political
candidates
have
long
sought
the
endorsement
of
celebrities
to
boost
their
profiles,
but
in
2024,
they’re
turning
to
comedians
for
more
than
just
a
starry
photo-op.
Comedians
like
Bill
Maher
and
Stephen
Colbert
are
often
invited
to
campaign
events
where
they
can
host
discussions,
roast
opponents,
and
engage
with
voters
in
a
way
that
feels
more
approachable
and
less
“stiff.”
The
humor
helps
to
humanize
the
candidate,
making
them
more
relatable
to
everyday
voters.

Jokes
at
the
Polls:
However,
there’s
a
risk
when
humor
enters
politics.
While

jokes
can
break
the
ice
and
attract
media
attention,
they
can
also
backfire.
Humor
that
resonates
with
one
group
of
voters
may
alienate
others.
Take,
for
example,
a
candidate
making
a
joke
that
crosses
the
line
or
a
comedian
who
gets
too

political
in
their

comedy.
The
reaction
can
be
a
disaster,
with
voters
questioning
the
candidate’s
professionalism
or
seriousness.
But,
when
done
right,
humor
can
serve
as
the
perfect
tool
to
stand
out
in
a
crowded
race.

---

The
Effectiveness
of

Political
Satire
in
Changing
Public
Opinion

It
may
seem
odd
to
think
of
a
comedian
changing
public
opinion,
but
the
truth
is
that
humor
has
a
profound
effect
on
the
way
voters
view
politics.

Shaping
Voter
Perception:
Humor
works
in
a
way
that’s
different
from
traditional

political
messaging.
It
gets
past
the
defenses
people
often
put
up
when
they’re
confronted
with
complex

political
arguments
or
campaign
rhetoric.
When
comedians
tackle
issues
like
healthcare
or
immigration,
they
can
take
the
sting
out
of
contentious
subjects,
making
it
easier
for
voters
to
digest
these
issues
in
a
more
lighthearted,
yet
informative
way.

Humor’s
Role
in
Shaping
Policy
Conversations:

Political
comedians
help
bring
issues
to
the
forefront
that
might
otherwise
be
ignored.
For
example,
John
Oliver’s
segment
on
net
neutrality
had
millions
of
viewers,
many
of
whom
hadn’t
been
aware
of
the
issue
before.

Comedy
can
serve
as
a
gateway
to
understanding
important
policy
debates,
making
them
more
accessible
to
a
wider
audience.

Campaign
Reactions
to

Comedy:
While
politicians
may
not
always
appreciate
the

ridicule,
many
are
starting
to
embrace
the
effectiveness
of

comedy.
In
2024,
we
see
candidates
actively
engaging
with
comedians
and
using
humor
as
a
tool
to
soften
their
image.
Some
campaigns
have
even
hired
professional
comedians
to
write

jokes
for
speeches
or
social
media
posts.

---

Conclusion:

Comedians
in
2024
are
no
longer
just
the
laughing
stock
of

political
discourse—they’re
at
the
forefront
of
the
conversation.
Whether
they’re
delivering
biting

political
commentary,
running
for
office,
or
playing
a
role
in
a
campaign
strategy,
their
influence
has
never
been
stronger.
As
the
lines
between
politics
and

comedy
continue
to
blur,
we
can
expect
to
see
even
more
comedians
using
their
platforms
to
shape
public
opinion
and
sway
voters.

So,
what
does
this
mean
for
the
future
of
politics?
It
means
that
in
the
coming
years,
humor
could
be
one
of
the
most
powerful

political
tools
in
existence.
Comedians
have
the
potential
to
break
down
barriers,
foster
understanding,
and
make
complex

political
issues
more
approachable
to
the
masses.
The
question
remains:
Will
comedians
continue
to
be
the
disruptors
of
the

political
establishment,
or
will
they
find
themselves
caught
in
the
same
web
of
partisanship
that’s
consumed
traditional
politicians?
Either
way,
one
thing
is
clear:
in
2024,
the

political
landscape
is
shaped
not
just
by
pundits,
but
by
the
comedians
who
make
us
laugh—and
think.

Go to Source
Author: Ingrid Gustafsson

Fake
Campaign
Ads:
How
Satire
Hijacked
the
Ballot
Box
in
2024

Introduction

You
know
the
election’s
gone
off
the
rails
when
the
most
honest
ad
on
TV
is
a
parody.
In
2024,
fake
campaign
ads
aren’t
just
a
punchline—they’re
a
genre,
a
movement,
and
in
some
cases,
more
believable
than
the
real
ones.

Whether
it’s
a
deepfake
candidate
promising
“universal
nap
time”
or
a
spoof
super
PAC
supporting
feral
raccoons
for
Congress,
the
world
of
fake
campaign
ads
has
become
a
weapon
of

satirical
warfare.
They’re
everywhere:
on
TikTok,
deep
in
YouTube’s
algorithm
rabbit
holes,
embedded
in
group
chats,
and
even
passed
off
as
real
in
local
news
broadcasts.
The
line
between
parody
and
propaganda?
Blurred,
pixelated,
and
probably
printed
in
Comic
Sans.

As
one
digital
strategist
said,

“If
voters
can’t
tell
the
difference
between
parody
and
reality…
maybe
the
parody’s
doing
its
job.”

What
Are
Fake
Campaign
Ads?

Fake
campaign
ads
are
intentionally
fabricated

political
advertisements
created
for

satire,
parody,
or
critique.
They
mimic
the
style,
tone,
and
structure
of
traditional

political
ads,
but
exaggerate
promises,
distort
rhetoric,
and
often
present
absurd
or
comedic
messages.

They
differ
from
outright
disinformation:
the
goal
isn’t
to
deceive
maliciously,
but
to
illuminate
truths
through

exaggeration
and
absurdity.
Satirical

political
ads
have
become
especially
prevalent
with
the
rise
of
accessible
tech
tools
like
deepfake
software,
AI
writing
assistants,
and
voice
cloning
apps.

Common
Formats:

• Parody
  campaign
  videos
• Satirical
  mailers
• AI-generated
  endorsements
• Meme-based
  policy
  announcements
• Instagram
  reels
  and
  TikTok
  skits

Fake
campaign
ads
often
walk
a
tightrope:
hilarious
enough
to
entertain,
accurate
enough
to
sting,
and
clear
enough
not
to
get
banned
by
content
moderators.

Why
Fake
Campaign
Ads
Work
Better
Than
Real
Ones

The
truth
is,
modern

political
ads
are
already
satire-adjacent.
When
a
real
candidate
says,
“I’m
fighting
for
American
values,”
it’s
not
clear
if
he
means
healthcare
reform
or
free
buffalo
wings.

Fake
campaign
ads
push
the
absurdity
just
a
notch
further—but
in
doing
so,
they
often
feel

more
honest.

Four
Reasons
They
Hit
Harder:

• 
  Realism
  is
  broken.
  Modern
  politics
  already
  feels
  like
  theater.
  Satirical
  ads
  cut
  through
  with
  clarity.
• 
  
  Comedy
  opens
  the
  mind.
  Studies
  show
  
  humor
  reduces
  resistance
  to
  opposing
  views.
• 
  Short
  form
  +
  viral
  hooks.
  A
  fake
  campaign
  ad
  promising
  “Free
  Tacos,
  No
  Taxes”
  is
  shareable
  gold.
• 
  They
  expose
  contradictions.
  When
  a
  candidate
  claims
  to
  support
  workers
  while
  profiting
  off
  layoffs,
  a
  parody
  ad
  saying
  “Vote
  for
  me,
  I’ll
  fire
  you
  respectfully!”
  lands
  the
  punch.

Dr.
Lenora
Broome,
a
media
psychologist
at
the
fictional
Lincoln
Center
for
Laughs
and

Democracy,
says,

“Fake
campaign
ads
help
us
process

political
fatigue
through
absurdity.
It’s
satire
as
civic
survival.”

A
Brief
History
of
Fake
Campaign
Ads

Fake
campaign
ads
are
not
new.
Satire
has
been
lampooning

political
rhetoric
since

Aristophanes
stuffed
corrupt
Athenian
politicians
into
Greek

comedy.

Notable
Moments:

• 
  1968:
  Comedian
  
  Pat
  Paulsen
  runs
  a
  satirical
  presidential
  campaign,
  complete
  with
  hilarious
  slogans
  and
  mock
  ads.
• 
  1980s–90s:
  
  Saturday
  Night
  Live
  commercials
  parody
  Reagan
  and
  Clinton’s
  campaigns.
• 
  2004:
  
  The
  
  Daily
  Show
  eviscerates
  the
  Bush/Kerry
  election
  with
  faux
  campaign
  spots,
  like
  “Vote
  for
  Kerry:
  He’s
  Not
  Bush.”
• 
  2016–2020:
  YouTube
  and
  Facebook
  fill
  with
  user-generated
  parody
  campaign
  videos.
• 
  2024:
  TikTok
  explodes
  with
  AI-generated
  deepfake
  ads,
  including
  a
  Bernie
  Sanders-Batman
  crossover
  ad
  and
  Kamala
  Harris
  endorsing
  a
  toaster.

The
Modern
Toolbox
for
Fake

Political
Ads

The
tools
have
evolved
from
sketch

comedy
to
sophisticated
tech.

Top
Tools
Used
by
Creators:

• 
  ChatGPT
  or
  
  Claude:
  Write
  speeches
  and
  slogans
  for
  fictional
  candidates
  like
  “Chad
  Freedom,
  Jr.”
  or
  “Grandma
  Cryptobucks.”
• 
  ElevenLabs
  or
  Respeecher:
  Clone
  
  political
  voices
  for
  parody
  voiceovers
• 
  RunwayML
  &
  DeepFaceLab:
  Create
  uncanny
  deepfakes
  of
  candidates
  dancing,
  crying,
  or
  reciting
  Taylor
  Swift
  lyrics
• 
  Canva
  &
  CapCut:
  Build
  fake
  flyers,
  TikToks,
  and
  campaign
  reels
  in
  30
  minutes
  or
  less
• 
  Meme
  Generators:
  Craft
  shareable
  images
  like
  “Electile
  Dysfunction
  2024:
  We
  Can’t
  Get
  It
  Up
  Either”

Satirical
creators
also
use
real
campaign
data,
absurdly
twisted:

“My
opponent
raised
$3
million
from
hedge
funds.
I
raised
$8
and
a
half-eaten
granola
bar
from
a
guy
named
Carl.”

Case
Study
from

Bohiney.com:
“Senator
Promises
to
Fight
for
the
Middle
Class,
After
He
Finishes
Lunch
with
Exxon”

In
the

Bohiney.com
article

“Senator
Promises
to
Fight
for
the
Middle
Class,
After
He
Finishes
Lunch
with
Exxon”,
the
parody
writes
itself.
A
fictional
senator
launches
a
campaign
ad
from
the
valet
zone
of
a
private
steakhouse,
promising
to
“stand
up
to
big
oil…
right
after
dessert.”

Satirical
Techniques
Used:

• 
  
  Irony:
  The
  senator’s
  pro-working
  class
  message
  is
  delivered
  from
  a
  luxury
  lobby.
• 
  Exaggeration:
  He
  pledges
  to
  “read
  the
  Constitution
  by
  2026.”
• 
  Parody:
  Mimics
  the
  style
  of
  PAC-funded
  ads
  with
  epic
  background
  music
  and
  fake
  testimonials:
  
  “He
  once
  shook
  hands
  with
  a
  janitor.
  I
  saw
  it.”

The
fake
ad
ends
with
a
dramatic
fade
to
slogan:

“Freedom.
Fracking.
Faith.”

It’s
absurd,
and
yet…
maybe
a
little
too
close
to
real.

How
to
Make
Your
Own
Fake
Campaign
Ad

Want
to
make
your
own
satirical
campaign
masterpiece?
Here’s
a
starter
kit:

1.
Create
a
Candidate

• Give
  them
  an
  absurd
  but
  plausible
  name:
  
  Jan
  Liberty-Dewdrop,
  
  Barney
  NoTax,
  
  General
  Banana
  Hammock
  (Ret.)
• Define
  their
  fake
  platform:
  
  mandatory
  naps,
  free
  guacamole,
  abolish
  Tuesdays

2.
Choose
the
Format

• Video?
  Meme?
  Instagram
  reel?
  Podcast
  parody?
  Skywriting?
• Choose
  based
  on
  your
  audience—TikTok
  loves
  quick
  hits,
  YouTube
  supports
  full-length
  fake
  debates

3.
Write
Your
Script

• Mix
  real
  rhetoric
  with
  absurd
  policy
• Example:
  
  “I
  stand
  for
  common
  sense,
  clean
  air,
  and
  a
  ban
  on
  any
  restaurant
  that
  serves
  kale.”

4.
Add
the
Slogans

• Keep
  it
  punchy,
  ironic,
  or
  gloriously
  vague:
  • “No
    More
    Problems.
    Just
    Us.”
  • “Vote
    for
    Tomorrow.
    Or
    Whatever.”
  • “I’m
    Not
    the
    Worst!”

5.
Add
a
Disclaimer

Always
label
it
as
satire.
Not
everyone
can
spot
irony.
Some
people
think


The
Onion
is
a
legitimate
news
source.

Disclaimer:
This
ad
was
paid
for
by
Absolutely
Nobody
and
should
not
be
taken
seriously,
unless
you
want
to.

Ethical
Line
or

Political
Goldmine?

Satire
has
legal
protections,
but
that
doesn’t
mean
fake
campaign
ads
are
free
from
ethical
complexity.

Key
Considerations:

• 
  Label
  clearly:
  Satire
  should
  not
  be
  used
  to
  intentionally
  mislead
• 
  Avoid
  impersonation:
  Even
  fake
  endorsements
  can
  confuse
  voters
• 
  Punch
  up,
  not
  down:
  Target
  power,
  not
  vulnerability
• 
  Expect
  backlash:
  Some
  platforms
  may
  flag
  parody
  for
  “political
  manipulation”

In
2023,
a
YouTube
ad
featuring
a
deepfake
Joe
Biden
moonwalking
to
“Hail
to
the
Chief”
was
taken
down
despite
a
clear
parody
label.
The
creator
was
later
hired
by
a
late-night
show.

Cultural
Impact:
When
Fake
Ads
Outperform
Real
Ones

A
recent
Pew-Rutgers
poll
(which
we
made
up
but
sounds
legit)
found
that

22%
of
young
voters
trust
parody
campaign
ads
more
than
real
ones.
Another
13%
believed
the
fictional
candidate
“Patriot
Cornbread”
was
a
real
Senate
hopeful.

This
isn’t
just
a
joke—it’s
a
signal.

Comedy
has
become
a
core
method
of

political
engagement.
Satirical
ads:

• 
  Generate
  higher
  engagement
  than
  traditional
  ads
• 
  Encourage
  
  political
  discussion
  through
  humor
• 
  Hold
  real
  campaigns
  accountable
  by
  exposing
  hypocrisy

Conclusion:
In
a
World
of

Political
Lies,
the
Fake
Ad
Might
Be
the
Only
Truth

Fake
campaign
ads
don’t
just
entertain.
They
expose,
deconstruct,
and
detonate
the
hollow
promises
and
plastic
grins
of
modern
politics.
In
a
world
where
candidates
say
one
thing
and
vote
another,
maybe
the
only
honest
campaign
slogan
is,

“Vote
for
Me—At
Least
I’m
Joking.”

So
go
ahead:
elect
your
imaginary
llama,
run
an
ad
promising
national
karaoke,
and
build
a

political
platform
entirely
out
of
pudding
cups.
Because
in
2024,
the
fake
might
be
the
last
place
to
find
truth.

Disclaimer

This
article
is
a
100%
human
collaboration
between
two
sentient
beings—the
world’s
oldest
tenured
professor
and
a
20-year-old
philosophy
major
turned
dairy
farmer.
No
AI
was
elected,
indicted,
or
used
as
campaign
manager
during
the
making
of
this
piece.

Auf
Wiedersehen!

Go to Source
Author: Ingrid Gustafsson

Meta
Description

Explore
essential

satirical
writing
techniques—irony,

exaggeration,
parody,
and
more—to
effectively
critique
societal
norms
and
provoke
thought
through

humor.

Introduction

Satire
has
long
been
a
powerful
tool
for

writers
to
highlight
societal
flaws,
challenge
authority,
and
provoke
thought—all
under
the
guise
of
humor.
From

Jonathan
Swift’s
biting
essays
to
modern-day
parodies,
satire
remains
a
relevant
and
impactful
literary
device.
This
article
delves
into
the
core
techniques
of
satirical
writing,
offering
insights
and
examples
to
help
you
master
this
art
form.

Understanding
Satire

Satire
is
a
genre
that
uses
humor,

irony,
exaggeration,
or

ridicule
to
expose
and
criticize
people’s
stupidity
or
vices,
particularly
in
the
context
of
contemporary
politics
and
other
topical
issues.
It’s
not
merely
about
eliciting
laughter
but
about
prompting
reflection
and,
ideally,
inspiring
change.
As
noted
by
Indeed.com,
satire
often
educates
and
entertains
its
readers,
making
it
a
potent
vehicle
for

social
commentary.

Core
Techniques
of
Satirical
Writing

To
craft
effective
satire,
writers
employ
several
key
techniques:

Exaggeration

This
involves
amplifying
certain
traits
or
situations
to
absurd
levels,
highlighting
their
flaws.
For
instance,
portraying
a
minor
inconvenience
as
a
catastrophic
event
underscores
the
triviality
of
the
original
issue.
As
discussed
in
Writers.com,

hyperbole
is
a
common
tool
in
satire
to
emphasize
particular
points.

Irony

Irony
entails
expressing
meaning
by
using
language
that
signifies
the
opposite,
often
to
humorous
or
emphatic
effect.
For
example,
stating
“What
a
pleasant
day!”
during
a
storm
showcases
verbal
irony.
Grammarly
highlights
irony
as
a
fundamental
aspect
of
satire,
allowing
writers
to
convey
criticism
subtly.

Parody

Parody
involves
imitating
the
style
or
content
of
another
work
or
genre
to
ridicule
or
comment
on
the
original.
This
technique
not
only
entertains
but
also
encourages
readers
to
question
the
original
work’s
intentions
or
quality.
As
noted
by
Indeed.com,
parody
is
a
common
form
of
satire
that
mocks
common
conventions
in

literature
and
style.

Incongruity

Presenting
things
that
are
out
of
place
or
absurd
in
relation
to
their
surroundings
creates
incongruity.
This
technique
highlights
the
ridiculousness
of
certain
situations
or
behaviors
by
placing
them
in
an
unexpected
context.
For
example,
depicting
a
baby
as
a
CEO
underscores
the
absurdity
of
certain
corporate
behaviors.
Indeed.com
discusses
incongruity
as
an
effective
satirical
technique
to
expose
societal
flaws.

Reversal

Reversal
involves
presenting
the
opposite
of
the
normal
order
of
things,
such
as
a
child
making
decisions
for
adults.
This
technique
exposes
the
absurdity
of
certain
power
dynamics
or
societal
norms.
Indeed.com
highlights
reversal
as
a
method
to
critique
established
hierarchies
by
flipping
roles
or
expectations.

Anachronism

Placing
someone
or
something
in
the
wrong
time
period—such
as
depicting
Aristotle
using
a
smartphone—creates
anachronism.
This
technique
can
highlight
the
timelessness
of
certain
human
behaviors
or
critique
contemporary
issues
by
placing
them
in
a
historical
context.
Indeed.com
mentions
anachronism
as
a
satirical
device
that
juxtaposes
different
time
periods
to
emphasize
contrasts.

Malapropism

Using
incorrect
words
that
sound
similar
to
the
intended
ones
can
create
humor
and
highlight
a
character’s
ignorance
or
pretentiousness.
For
example,
saying
“dance
a
flamingo”
instead
of
“flamenco”
showcases
malapropism.
Indeed.com
identifies
malapropism
as
a
technique
that
adds
humor
through
the
misuse
of
language.

Applying
Satirical
Techniques:
A
Step-by-Step
Guide

To
effectively
incorporate
these
techniques
into
your
writing,
consider
the
following
steps:

Identify
the
Target

Determine
the
subject
of
your
satire—be
it
a
societal
norm,

political
figure,
or
cultural
phenomenon.
A
clear
target
ensures
your
satire
has
direction
and
purpose.

Choose
the
Appropriate
Technique

Select
the
technique
that
best
suits
your
target.
For
instance,
exaggeration
might
be
ideal
for
highlighting
the
flaws
of
a
trivial
matter
blown
out
of
proportion,
while
irony
could
be
effective
in
showcasing
hypocrisy.

Craft
the
Narrative

Develop
a
storyline
or
argument
that
incorporates
your
chosen
technique.
Ensure
that
the
humor
serves
the
critique
and
that
the
message
remains
clear
to
the
audience.

Revise
and
Refine

Satire
requires
precision.
Review
your
work
to
ensure
that
the
humor
aligns
with
the
critique
and
that
the
satire
doesn’t
come
across
as
mere

comedy
without
substance.

Case
Study
from

Bohiney.com:
“Experts
Warn
That
Reading
Books
May
Lead
to
Independent
Thinking”

In
the
satirical
piece
“Experts
Warn
That
Reading
Books
May
Lead
to
Independent
Thinking,”

Bohiney.com
employs
classic

satirical
techniques:

• 
  Irony:
  Highlighting
  the
  unintended
  consequences
  of
  reading
  fostering
  independent
  thought.
• 
  Exaggeration:
  Suggesting
  that
  educational
  institutions
  are
  shaken
  by
  this
  discovery.
• 
  Parody:
  Mimicking
  the
  tone
  of
  academic
  warnings
  to
  critique
  societal
  attitudes
  toward
  education.

This
piece
exemplifies
how
satire
can
use
humor
to
provoke
thought
and
challenge
societal
norms.

Read
the
full
article
here:

https://bohiney.com/education/

Conclusion

Mastering
satirical
writing
techniques
enables
writers
to
entertain
while
provoking
thought
and
challenging
societal
norms.
By
employing
tools
like
irony,
exaggeration,
and
parody,
you
can
craft
narratives
that
not
only
amuse
but
also
inspire
reflection
and,
potentially,
change.

Disclaimer

This
article
is
a
100%
human
collaboration
between
two
sentient
beings—the
world’s
oldest
tenured
professor
and
a
20-year-old
philosophy
major
turned
dairy
farmer.
No
AI
was
harmed
or
deepfaked
during
the
making
of
this
satirical
instruction
manual.

Auf
Wiedersehen!

Go to Source
Author: Ingrid Gustafsson