Radio Yerevan jokes as an expression of free speech under a totalitarian regime (using the example of urban folklore in the Soviet States)

This article examines the genre of humor, with a particular focus on the jokes from Radio Yerevan. The development of this literary genre is traced from its roots in ancient Greek philosophy to the modern era. In the 1960s, Radio Yerevan jokes emerged as a widespread sociocultural phenomenon. At their core is a fictional radio station that, during the communist regime in the Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic, allegedly broadcast news from the capital, Yerevan, and responded to listeners’ questions. These jokes circulated not only within the Soviet Union but also throughout the Eastern European states, transmitted both orally and via radio broadcasts. Their primary aim was to reinforce the ideal of free speech, expose the shortcomings of the regime and its leaders, and contribute indirectly to the erosion of authoritarian structures. The life trajectories of several Armenian intellectuals are analyzed to exemplify the consequences faced by those who did not conform to the regime’s ideological demands. A significant portion of Radio Yerevan’s jokes revolves around political satire, reflecting, in particular, the contradictions between the Soviet Union and the United States and the rivalries among the three South Caucasian states. Furthermore, the article highlights the crucial role of humor as an element of urban folklore. Jokes featuring city and country names are analyzed using humorous techniques. Examples of irony, exaggeration, absurdity, wit, ambiguity, wordplay, and allusion were skillfully utilized to shed light on political and social grievances. Finally, the article outlines Radio Yerevan jokes’ formal and thematic characteristics, with particular attention to their distinctive national and cultural features.