Politics and Comedy: a Systematic Literature Review

Politics and comedy are intrinsically connected and have been for almost the entirety of recorded political history, with various forms of political humor having emerged across time and cultures. This paper serves as a systematic literature review of the works produced about this topic, in a scale not done before, and it is focused mainly on two dimensions: the presence of political comedy in media and culture, as an entertainment device, and the utilization of humor as a communication tool, by politicians and political parties. Regarding the first dimension, the first documented cases of political satire were recorded in Ancient Greece, where Aristophanes’ plays were particularly relevant. In more recent history, political cartoons and radio programs have further propelled the popularity of political humor. Television, however, has been the medium where political comedy has reached its greatest prominence, achieving widespread appeal and notable cultural influence. Concerning the second dimension, politicians have also frequently used humor as a rhetorical tool in various contexts, from speeches in classical antiquity societies to various politicians in modern campaigns. Political leaders employ humor not only to influence voters, but also to convey personal qualities like intelligence and sense of humor. This type of rhetoric is often used to build emotional connections with citizens and can enhance recall of the political message being conveyed.