1. The Grey Album mashup is an abstract work of art. I think what DJ Danger Mouse is trying to communicate is how amazing both albums were even though the White Album was created many years ago and the Black Album not so long ago. And how together they created something equally amazing. This is not a comedic parody because he wasn't mocking or making fun of anything, in fact i think he was enhancing the songs and reinventing them making it an abstract work of media art.
2. Personally, I do not think it broke copyright laws because he used for creative expression, but then again I do not really know too much about copyright laws. The companies who actually do own the song may think otherwise. Whether or not it was for creative expression, he did go on the radar by having the album gain notoriety and popularity. The music label that owned the songs did not appreciate it even if he didn't mean to. He used their songs with their authorization and because it did become viral, that was all they needed to take legal action against him.
3. I can't make up my mind to whether or not mashups like this require copyright permission because although it was not DJ Danger Mouse's intent to break copyright law. He did it as an art form, a way to express himself. But also, he was using very well-known tracks that do not belong to him. I think that it would have been better if he did because he knew he wasn't going to be the only one listening to this mashup and that he was going to share it. I mean if someone took something you owned without asking and then made money off of it even though it belonged to you, wouldn't you feel like you were entitled to some of it especially because they used it without your authorization.
