Self-Censorship Between Self-Ridicule and Self-Reflection

This essay investigates the notion of humour as a tool used to highlight the acts of self-censorship in theatre and performing arts and its subversive potential. By referring to the examples from the process of working on the Imaginary Europe performance directed by Oliver Frljić, the essay problematizes the acts of self-prevention committed by artists who decide to withdraw a certain figure of speech in order not to cause harm towards minorities or underprivileged groups. I revisit theories that tackle humour and reveal its complexity (Billig, McGowan and Zupančič), and I refer to the work of artists who combine humour with self-reflection in the process of undermining and questioning theatrical hierarchies and mechanisms of power.