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Black humor, Dark humor, Gallows Humor
Black humor, Dark humor, Gallows Humor
Based on grim or tragic situations, often making light of a dangerous situation.
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If a skydiver’s parachute fails to open, he has the rest of his life to fix it.
Sarcasm, Cynicism
Sarcasm, Cynicism
Based on negative opinions of people and/or situations, this technique often is spoken as the opposite of the comedian’s true intent.
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“Wow, it is raining on my day off. Shocking.”
"Its not like everyone doesn't know that in the English language a double negative is a positive, but a double positive also makes a negative."
"Yeah, right."
Hyperbole, Exaggeration
Hyperbole, Exaggeration
Comic presentation marked by extravagant exaggeration and outsized characterization.
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“Sorry I am so late. It was raining so hard at one point I considered trading in my car for an ark.”
Anecdotal
Anecdotal
Named after the word anecdote (which stems from the Greek term meaning “unpublished”); refers to comic personal stories that may be true or partly true but embellished.
Parodic
Parodic
Comic imitation often intended to ridicule an author, an artistic endeavor, or a genre.
Many sketch comedies, such as Saturday Night Live, Mad TV, and Monty Python feature parodies. Jeopardy (which is easily altered to Jeo-parody) is an easy target as seen here and in the Animaniacs clip.
High/highbrow
High/highbrow
Humor pertaining to cultured, sophisticated themes.
Humor pertaining to cultured, sophisticated themes.
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How many psychiatrists does it take to change a light bulb?
Only one, but the light bulb has to want to change.
What’s the difference between an etymologist, and an entomologist?
An etymologist knows the difference.
Why is it so difficult to explain jokes to kleptomaniacs?
Because they always take things, literally.
Juvenile/sophomoric
Juvenile/sophomoric
Humor involving childish themes such as pranks, name-calling, and other immature behavior.
Humor involving childish themes such as pranks, name-calling, and other immature behavior.
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"Knock, knock."
"Who’s there?"
"I'm taken app."
"I'm taken app who?"
"Ew. Gross. I’ll come back when you are done. Make sure you wash your hands."
And here is a high brow humor comic about sophomoric humor. Pretty deep, huh?
Combining forms of humor and comedic devices is common and encouraged.
Slapstick
Slapstick
Comedy in which mock violence and simulated bodily harm are staged for comic effect; also called physical comedy. The name derives from a prop consisting of a stick with an attached piece of wood that slapped loudly against it when one comedian struck another with it, enhancing the effect.
Comedy in which mock violence and simulated bodily harm are staged for comic effect; also called physical comedy. The name derives from a prop consisting of a stick with an attached piece of wood that slapped loudly against it when one comedian struck another with it, enhancing the effect.
Word Play
Word Play
Deliberately exploits an ambiguity between similar-sounding words for humorous or rhetorical effect.
Deliberately exploits an ambiguity between similar-sounding words for humorous or rhetorical effect.
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The boy tried to ride the dog’s tail because it was a waggin’.
The butcher backed into the meat grinder and got a little behind in his work.
Frequently, humor s often a combination of multiple categories. For example, there is definitely parody and exaggeration combined in this video which Mrs. Ashman claims is an accurate description of our home.
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