A genie appears from a lamp in the hands of an astonished Venezuelan boy to declare: ”You can ask for anything – except toilet paper!” The world’s highest inflation and shortages of basics from milk to toilet roll are really no laughing matter for Venezuelans, but they find solace in a thriving comedy scene lampooning the governance behind the economic strife. Through cartoons like the genie, stand-up comedy, and online satire, humour has become a prominent and poignant form of criticism as mainstream media exercise more self-censorship. ”Despite oil at $100 a barrel, Venezuela is living through the worst economic crisis of its history … It’s the Midas touch in reverse,” stand-up comic Laureano Marquez told Reuters before entertaining a 600-strong audience at a Caracas theatre. His 90-minute routine delivered a witty critique of problems from food queues and medicine shortages, to government corruption and skewed courts. […]