Korku Yerine Gülme: Rahatlama Kuramı Çerçevesinde Cehennem İçerikli Karikatürlerin İncelenmesi
Laughter Instead of Fear: An Analysis of Hell-Themed Cartoons within The Framework of Relief Theory

Summary/Abstract: The transition from oral and written culture to the digital age has facilitated the rise of visual culture, emphasizing that laughter is often triggered not by oral or written texts alone but by images conveyed through language or depiction. At this juncture, humor—one of the psychological defense mechanisms cultivated by human beings—becomes a crucial factor. Throughout history, scholars have analyzed laughter and humor from diverse perspectives, offering both similar and developing theories. Initially, three principal theories emerged: the Superiority Theory, the Incongruity Theory, and the Relief Theory. This study adopts Relief Theory, which interprets humor and laughter as a means of discharging nervous energy, to analyze visual texts. According to the theory, societal structures give rise to taboos and prohibitions, which generate a sense of repression in individuals; in response, people seek relief through humor as a coping mechanism. Through humor, taboo topics become expressible, suppressed emotions surface, and psychological relief is achieved. Among the various humoristic tools that facilitate this relief through laughter, caricatures hold a significant place. In contemporary society, where visual culture exerts an increasing influence, caricatures serve as potent instruments of social critique, particularly in challenging political and religious authorities. In the initial phase of the study, caricatures containing elements directly or indirectly associated with hell—such as hellfire, the record of deeds, the bridge of Sirat, the devil, evil suggestions (waswasa), and the ritual stoning of the devil—were selected for analysis. Additionally, caricatures depicting contemporary phenomena associated with existential anxiety, societal oppression, and hardship, metaphorically linked to hell and the devil, were included. These caricatures were analyzed within the framework of Relief Theory, emphasizing the therapeutic effects of laughter in mitigating psychological distress. Accordingly, this study aims to demonstrate the role of humor in alleviating suppressed emotions and fears, ultimately transforming fear into a source of psychological relief.

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