La satira politica nell'aforisma serbo

There is a long history of satirical aphorisms in Serbian literature. They have always been linked to humorous magazines, now existing in digital form, while the aphorisms themselves are shared by their authors on social media. Their subjects concern social-political questions that with the passing of time still prove to be topical. What is also topical is the harshness with which the authorities have always punished or censored the authors, who at the same time managed to obtain a certain degree of freedom. When necessary they hid behind pseudonyms or went unnoticed thanks to the aphoristic style of writing, marked by a high degree of allusiveness, word games and double meanings. At the same time the authorities have always managed to see satire as a sort of escape valve that eases social tensions. When the aphorism changes its geographical coordinates, it sometimes struggles to convey cultural contents that are not always semantically universal. A further merit of the aphorism is the opportunity to interpret historical times through the topics treated and the different levels of freedom of expression, frequently limited by the ruling classes who are stung by the satire.