From the Archives

What is Comedy Against Authority?

Comedy has long been used as an escape during times of social hardship and political unrest. However, comedy has also been a tool in the fight against authoritarianism (or anti-democratic systems), and against the oppression of minoritized groups and individuals. This digital archive features social media content that uses comedy to fight against societal and political authority, shedding light on the importance of comedy as an anti-authoritarian tool.

Full Collection

The Comedy Against Authority Digital Archives consists of digital objects - particularly social media posts - that fight against cultural and political authoritarianism through the use of comedy. Our collection is always growing, as researchers find new instances of comedy against authority across social media. This collection is of particular use to scholars, as each digital object has a related citation, and the archives can be browsed by subject, creator, and date of creation (to name a few). The collection currently consists of video and graphic items. All metadata is transparent and downloadable.

Subject of Interest: North Atlantic Fellas Organization

The North Atlantic Fellas Organization (NAFO) is a grassroots community that fights propaganda at its source, using humour to “shitpost” and “ratio” pro-Russian and anti-Ukraine social media users, particularly Vladimir Putin’s online spokespeople. NAFO also raises funds to support the Ukrainian military in the fight against Russia's invasion. NAFO membership is $5, which covers the cost of the member’s “Fella”: a photoshopped avatar of a Shiba Inu customized to the user’s specifications (i.e., the member can personalize their Fella with a particular theme, clothing, background, and accessories).

Subject of Interest: Rechts Gegen Rechts [Right Against Right]

The Rechts Gegen Rechts movement resists far-right groups in Germany by remaking their activities into fundraisers for anti-extremist charities. They began by converting neo-Nazi marches into involuntary walkathons, decorating the environment to look like a race and raising donations based on how far each participant walks. More recently, they have started monitoring speech on social media and purchases of neo-Nazi dog whistles, both of which similarly result in donations. They support charities like EXIT Deutschland, which helps people escape extremist groups. Rechts Gegen Rechts’ use of pranks to undermine the neo-Nazi agenda shows the value of comedy as a tool against authoritarian regimes.