Which genre uses comic exaggeration to critique societal institutions?

The chosen answer, satire, is indeed the correct genre that employs comic exaggeration to critique societal institutions. Satire often uses humor, irony, and exaggeration as tools to highlight and criticize the flaws, absurdities, and shortcomings within political, social, or cultural systems. By exaggerating certain features or characteristics, satirical works invite reflection and discussion about the issues they present, ultimately aiming to provoke change or awareness about societal norms.

In contrast, crime drama typically focuses on themes of crime and justice, emphasizing suspense and moral complexities rather than humor. Tragedy, on the other hand, deals with serious themes and often ends in disaster for the protagonist, showcasing human suffering without the comedic elements characteristic of satire. Melodrama emphasizes exaggerated emotions and dramatic situations for effect, but does not primarily use humor or critique societal institutions in the same way that satire does.