Social and Political Criticism in Hungarian Parodistic Videos on YouTube
Social and Political Criticism in Hungarian Parodistic Videos on YouTube

Summary/Abstract: According to common sense, youngsters are more likely to turn their backs on politics. However, in my paper, I would like to throw some light on the subject by introducing a new form of mediated political reflexivity on various social and cultural issues. The phenomenon works through humorous and parodistic videos which are based on remixes of popular movies, songs, talk shows and news items and are circulating on social websites. Quite often the “actors” of these videos are “everyday celebrities” such as the homeless, the poor and the socially deprived. By using parody and hyperbola, the videos mock contemporary social setting that is based on entertainment and consumption, but in reality is cruel, violent, addictive and segregating. My hypothesis is that ridicule is a symbolic act through which youngsters distance themselves from social injustices while order is re-established. In conclusion, youngsters who tend to reject taking part in serious political acts can still make their voice heard in these videos.

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