In the article An Art-inspired Methodology for Studying Laughter in World Politic the author Saara Särmä discusses the art world and possible modes of engaging with world politics.
Särmä explains that she uses visual collaging to illustrate world politics and that this is done in a very creative and humorous manner (Särmä, 111). The author says that collaging “as a methodology creatively engages with the internet as a specific modality of knowledge production” (115). Visual collage help us to make sense of the overwhelming amount of information that is circulating the Internet.
The author also highlights that because information circulates so fast on the Internet that sometime we learn about world politics through parody first (112). The main idea here is that parody and laughter help us to remember and make meaningful connections to events and issues in world politics. For example, in the 2012 presidential race Mitt Romney made a statement during one of the debates about cutting funds to PBS. This statement went viral with memes and parodies started popping up all over the Internet making fun of Mitt Romney for trying to kill off Big Bird.
Särmä explains that laughter can “both invert and sustain power relations” (113). The parodies that were generated after Romney’s remarks drew negative attention to his campaign. It made him look like he was more concerned about attacking PBS then going after Osama Bin Laden.
Särmä, S. Collage (2015): An Art-inspired Methodology for Studying Laughter in World Politics. Caso and Hamilton, Eds. Pp. 110-119.
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