Final answer:
Humor can expose hidden biases by serving as a release for ideas that may disturb the social order, as discussed by Mary Douglas. It often reflects and relies on societal norms, which can reveal underlying prejudices. However, humor's effect and interpretation can vary widely across cultures and contexts.
Step-by-step explanation:
Humor can indeed reveal hidden biases, though it does so in complex ways. Anthropologist Mary Douglas posited that humor serves as a release for ideas and actions that could destabilize the social fabric, acting as a safety valve for expressions that might be taboo or socially disruptive. Therefore, the utilization of humor often reflects underlying societal norms and biases that may not be overtly acknowledged or are uncomfortable to confront directly.
It is also important to consider that humor varies across cultures and what is funny to one group may be offensive or incomprehensible to another. Familiarity with the unwritten social rules is essential to both understanding and creating humor. Charles Dickens and Jonathan Swift, for instance, expertly utilized humor and satire to criticize societal issues, indirectly revealing biases within the society they were addressing.
Additionally, humor in political contexts, such as on shows like Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, can make political discourse more accessible and engaging, potentially even enhancing political knowledge among viewers. However, while humor can illuminate biases, it is not always straightforward, and has the capacity to distort or distract from serious themes within a text.