Smiling face of folk humor in the virtual world: Political anecdotes [Sanal Dünyada Halk Mizahinin Gülen/Güldüren Yüzü: Siyasi Fikralar]

Abstract

Science and technology on earth are renewing with greater speed. Innovation also provides change. These changes affect human life either positively or negatively. Changes in technological life also force cultural changes. New cultural habits are emerging due to renovations. The internet has become one of the most important tools for cultural changes especially in the last two decades. Cultural changes that occur more slowly in oral and written cultural environments have gained a great momentum in the electronic cultural environment. Change has created new traditions. these traditions reach a much wider audience/ listener. Folklor is also affected by these changes. Folklor expanded the research area and found a new and rich research area. Anecdote is one of the most important folkor genres. In all periods, the anecdote makes people laugh, think. The anecdote continued to exist in society for a long time, both orally and in writing. Today, the anecdote carries important functions in the electronic culture environment which is the new performing environment. The anecdotes deal with all matters of human interest. One of these issues is politics. Politics is the art of managing people/society and organizing social relations. Politics is also one of the most discussed topics in the anecdotes. The aim of this study is to reveal the functions of political anecdotes in the electronic culture environment. For this purpose, many websites have been examined. The study is limited to political anecdotes in the electronic environment. As a result, it has been seen that political anecdotes in the new context both continue the tradition and transform it with new products. The electronic culture environment is a rich anecdote archive. The anecdotes continue their powerful criticism, subtle humor, wise sayings effectively in the virtual world. The virtual world is a large and rich area of research for folklore specialists. © 2019 Cyprus International University. All rights reserved.