Semiotics of Satire: The Soviet/Russian Case There are numerous studies on humor and satire which assess these phenomena from different, sometimes contrasting, perspectives. However, when it concerns political satire, the majority of popular books and various accounts tend to present it as a form of critique and protest and as a simplistic criticism of the evils of the society. As a number of academic studies of political satire have shown, satire may have no real political effect but on the contrary can create “an illusory democracy” which results in the sublimation of a conflict (Zijderveld 1983, Fossato 2009, Oates 2013, Miazhevich 2015, Tsakona & Popa 2011). This paper tackles this problem and examines the main features of (political) satire during the Soviet period vis-à-vis modern Russia (the last two decades) from a semiotic perspective. I argue that in repressive regimes satire is best analyzed in terms of Lotman’s cultural semiotics and especially his concepts of myth (Lotman and Uspensky 1978) and autocommunication (Lotman 1990). As I am going to demonstrate, paradoxically, one of the main features of political satire is that it reproduces and maintains a certain world picture, values, and identities thus functioning as typical mythological texts which are designed to organize the world of the listener. In conclusion and speaking more generally, I will touch upon how Lotman’s understanding of myth has implications for the study of humor and its role in human cultural development. Fossato, Floriana (2009) “Russian Cyberspace—Reflecting, Not Changing Reality.” https://www.opendemocracy.net/article/email/russian-cyberspace-reflecting-not-changing-reality (Accessed on 2015-02-26). Lotman, Yuri M. (1990) Universe of the Mind: A Semiotic Theory of Culture. London & New York: I.B. Tauris. Lotman, Yuri and Boris Uspensky (1977) “Myth–Name–Culture.” Semiotica 22.3-4: 211–234 Miazhevich, Galina (2015) “Sites of subversion: online political satire in two post- Soviet states.” Media, Culture & Society Feb 2015: 1-18. Oates S (2013) Revolution Stalled: The Political Limits of the Internet in the Post-Soviet Sphere. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Tsakona, V. & Popa, D.E. (eds.) (2011). Studies in political humour: in between political critique and public entertainment. Amsterdam: John Benjamins. Zijdelverd, Anton C. (1983) The Sociology of Humour and Laughter. London (Current Sociology 31:3).