satire
“Satire is meant to ridicule power. If you are laughing at people who are hurting, it's not satire, it's bullying.” – Terry Pratchett
Satire in extreme times is risky. Choose any excess, think you’re wildly exaggerating, and it’s most likely to have been true. (Sympathetic murmur) I know.
Margaret Atwood • Old Babes in the Wood
Yes, satire can still be effective when the audience doesn’t realize it’s satire—but its effectiveness shifts. In this case, it's no longer just critiquing its target; it's exposing the audience's willingness to accept absurdity as truth. That can be funny in a dark, uncomfortable way, especially when the satire holds up a mirror without announcing... See more