The use of humor in human rights activism is no new phenomenon with examples of it dating back to Norwegian popular resistance in World War II. Ranging from thought-provoking to humiliating, comical to satirical, humor can be manifested in such a multitude of ways that it has often been the venue of action for many human rights practitioners. Although at first thought it may seem that organizations using humor in their advocacy are doing so only for attention and publicity, this is certainly not true. The experiences of numerous years of humor have brought a deeper understanding of the effects it can have in advocacy.
Majken Jul Sørensen wrote a MA dissertation piece on the use of humor in non-violent resistance, highlighting the rise in interest regarding the dynamics of humor as an advocacy tactic. Sørensen's interviews with members of the Otpor organization have illuminated the more complex dynamics of humor. This Serbian student resistance organization utilized numerous humorous acts to help bring down Slobodan Miloševic. When asked why they chose to use humor, former Otpor members cited the ability for humor to change a culture of apathy and fear into one of solidarity. In fact, Sørensen identifies three dynamics of humor in human rights activism: facilitating outreach and mobilization, facilitating the building of a resistance mentality, and turning oppression upside down.
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