Contribution short abstract:

This paper attempts to show, in an exploratory way, how different types of humor used by refugees, asylum seekers, naturalized migrants, and migrants with residency rights in Germany can be interpreted as an act of citizenship.

Contribution long abstract:

In recent years, racist and anti-immigration discourses have become more pervasive in Germany than ever before. Remigration (massive deportations of people with non-German ethnic backgrounds) or stricter border controls are the two main themes of the xenophobic narratives in the media, among politicians, and also amidst German society. On the one hand, a quick glance at the German media’s leftist or immigrant-friendly contributions reveals that satirical humor has already evolved into a powerful tool for ridiculing far-right goals—or rather exacerbating existing social polarizations. Humorous enactments and presentations against racist and discriminatory notions have started to circulate social media and other digital spaces, used to criticize and challenge the dominant discourses. On the other hand, refugees, asylum seekers, naturalized migrants, and migrants with residency rights are forced to live in fear of being sent back to their home countries.

It is less well known whether or not political humor is used by immigrant communities in Germany as a means of solidarity and mutual support or as a nonviolent form of resistance to the dominant power. In an exploratory manner, this paper seeks to determine how different types of humor—such as satire, skits, jokes, cartoons, memes, and witty remarks—appear in digital spaces. It is possible to think of these virtual performances as a way to act politically by asserting rights, equality, and belonging. These instances of political action serve as the impetus for this paper, which raises the question: how migrant humor can be interpreted as a form of act of citizenship?