A thing is funny when — in some way that is not actually offensive or frightening — it upsets the established order. Every joke is a tiny revolution.

If you're interested in the intersection of comedy and politics, you should read all of the essay; it's still very relevant. In fact, it's alarmingly relevant. Here's another excerpt:

It would seem that you cannot be funny without being vulgar, that is, vulgar by the standards of the people at whom English humorous writing in our own day seems mostly to be aimed. For it is not only sex that is "vulgar." So are death, childbirth and poverty... and respect for the intellect and strong political feeling, if not actually vulgar, are looked upon as being in doubtful taste. You cannot be really funny if your main aim is to flatter the comfortable classes: it means leaving out too much. To be funny, indeed, you have got to be serious.

Orwell also says that "A willingness to make extremely obscene jokes can co-exist with very strict moral standards."

I may or may not have strict moral standards, but I definitely have a willingness to make extremely obscene jokes.

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