Humor is one of the most varied and complex qualities of any human being; what you find funny may be ridiculous, boring, or even offensive to the person next to you.
Case in point: Lots of comedians regularly get heat for making “offensive” jokes, with people debating on whether the comedians have crossed the line or audiences are just getting too sensitive.
Some types of humor yield immediate laughs while, others are an acquired taste—you might tickle someone’s funny bone, offend them, or make yourself look awkward and corny.
Types of Humor
There’s are many types of humor out there and people rarely stick to just one. Rather, they’ll change types depending on what best fits the situation, or use a blend of two or more types.
Below are a few types of humor that you’re likely to encounter in writing, film, or daily life.
1. Slapstick
Anything humorous that is done with an emphasis on exaggerated physical activities is slapstick. This is the most common type of humor and often involves some form of violence, whether intentional or accidental. The name comes from a device used by theatre actors to imitate the sound of a slap during performances.
You’ve probably watched countless clips of people slipping on banana peels or getting hit by mistake and hitting back in return. Think Charlie Chaplin and Rowan Atkinson: their works are some of the best examples of slapstick out there.
2. Self-deprecating
No one likes being made fun of by others; but making fun of yourself is an entirely different thing. Self-deprecators are masters at putting themselves down for laughs and they do it in a way that makes everyone feel good instead of pitying them.
Self-deprecating humor often makes people comfortable, as seeing a person make fun of themselves makes the comic seem real and humble.
Rodney Dangerfield made a career in poking fun at himself. His catchphrase, “I don’t get no respect!” became the centerpiece of his career, often used as an opening line to his humorous monologues about his life.
3. Deadpan
Deadpan jokes are delivered in a monotone and matter-of-fact voice, complete with an expressionless face. It’s a more intelligent kind of humor, requiring your mind to be active and engaged to understand the comic. It’s the complete opposite of slapstick.
The comic’s seriousness in delivering their lines plays a large part in deadpan humor. Because the audience doesn’t have a physical indicator that a joke’s about to happen, they’re often taken by surprise.
One of the most successful deadpan comics, Steven Wright, takes advantage of his lethargic voice to deliver his one-liners. That, combined with his non-sequiturs and nonsensical jokes, often surprised his audience.
4. Dark
Dark humor pokes fun at topics that are widely considered taboo such as death, suicide, human sexuality, and slavery. Nothing is off the table, no matter how sensitive or topical the subject of the joke is. It’s the type of humor that can easily offend others and get you in trouble.
Comedians use dark humor to provoke a reaction from their audience. Their goals could range from simply shocking people to forcing them to contemplate serious thoughts about a particular subject.
Scottish comedian Frankie Boyle is best known for his dark and controversial humor. It’s something that’s gotten him in trouble many times, from shocking quips about the Queen to the Palestine-Israel conflict.
5. Satire
Satire is a broad area of comedy that criticizes human flaws. Its intent is to shame individuals and groups alike into improving themselves by drawing attention to their mistakes and shortcomings. In this way, satire can be considered a form of social criticism.
Satirists make liberal use of exaggeration, irony, sarcasm, and parody to get their point across. The goal of their jokes is to both entertain the audience and make them think more deeply about a certain subject.
A great example of satire is the popular sketch show Saturday Night Live. It’s known for its satirical impressions and parodies of famous celebrities, politicians, corporations, and pop culture.
6. Surreal
As suggested by its name, surreal humor is humor that is odd and strange. It takes advantage of the audience’s perceptions and expectations, flipping them over to create unpredictability.
Surrealists make use of illogical thinking, absurd characters and events, and nonsensical themes. The humor here is derived from the ridiculous and unrealistic situations created by its unpredictability.
Monty Python is perhaps the most well-known surreal comedy group. Their particular brand of humor used unconventional storylines that often juxtaposed completely opposite elements, creating a wild and nonsensical feel.
7. Wordplay
Wordplay is a form of wit that plays around with the meanings and ambiguities of language for humorous results. Puns, spoonerisms, double entendres, and phonetic mix-ups are part of this type of humor.
The ever-popular dad jokes fall solidly into this category. In fact, they’re the best examples of wordplay. Dads everywhere, rejoice!
George Carlin, a social critic and stand-up comedian, is known for his masterful use of words. His “The Seven Words” is one of his most memorable routines. It challenged the status quo and was instrumental in shaping the decency laws in the United States.
8. Blue
Blue humor deals with subjects that are deemed crude, such as sex, nudity, and bodily fluids. It ranges from slightly indecent to straight-up obscene.
Much like black humor, blue humor is meant to shock and provoke reactions. But unlike black humor, which deals with painful or frightening subjects, blue humor merely uses subjects deemed offensive. It pokes fun at the many rituals, rules, and cultural decencies we have attributed to such topics.
Dave Chappelle is a stand-up comedian whose jokes often employ shock and vulgarity to get his point across.
Appreciate Humor
Humor is a double-edged sword in writing. Used well, it elevates your work, creating a connection between you and the reader. It’s a human element that lets them more easily get absorbed into your work.
Used poorly, it becomes a burden. Because humor is subjective, there’s a large risk that your readers can get offended or put off by your humor. Your jokes might even fly right over their heads.
You should then be cautious when employing humor in your writing. Develop that sense of placement that makes sure your attempts at humor are positioned to be effective. If you’ve got them, let your beta readers read your work so you’ll get some outside perspectives to evaluate your humor.
What type of humor do you enjoy reading and writing? Share them in the comments below!
If you enjoyed this post, then you might also like:
- 8 Types of Imagination and How You Use Them to Create New Ideas
- How to Identify and Use Sarcasm: Definition, Types, and Examples
- 12 Funny Book Titles That Will Grab Your Attention
Cole is a blog writer and aspiring novelist. He has a degree in Communications and is an advocate of media and information literacy and responsible media practices. Aside from his interest in technology, crafts, and food, he’s also your typical science fiction and fantasy junkie, spending most of his free time reading through an ever-growing to-be-read list. It’s either that or procrastinating over actually writing his book. Wish him luck!
