The poetics of mockery against the far-right disinformation machine in digital platforms

Resumo

This article examines the attacks by far-right movements on one of democracy’s core principles: the concept of truth. The analysis details the workings of the global disinformation machine operated by these groups and proposes strategies to tackle it.  Identifying disinformation as a central factor in the radicalization of the electorate—a force that dissolves shared reality and creates an episteme detached from other sectors of society —, the text suggests artistic principles to set up tactics that explore the vulnerabilities of this machine. Digital art is highlighted as a strategic tool against the far right, exemplified by the experience of the artist herself who, in the 2022 Brazilian elections, used humor and entertainment on digital media as a form of militancy. The initial work, aimed at “vote-shifting,” consisted of scenes composed of materials from heterogeneous fields that poetically reorganized the news from an alternative perspective to that of the mainstream media. This practice became a strategy to challenge the epistemes of the far right, encouraging a political debate that transcends stricto sensu rationality. The article perceives digital action as vital to amplify social movements and deconstruct radicalization, promoting a balanced information environment and contributing to a more inclusive and shared world.