black humor
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: A type of humor that deals with serious, disturbing, or taboo subjects (such as death, disease, or tragedy) in a satirical, ironic, or absurdly comic way. It creates laughter from topics that are typically considered sad, frightening, or offensive.
Usage
"Black humor" is used to describe a specific comedic style found in literature, film, drama, and conversation. It is often employed to criticize, cope with, or highlight the absurdity of dark situations. It is typically an uncountable noun.
Examples
- The novelist is famous for his use of black humor to explore themes of war and mortality.
- The film's black humor made the tragic story strangely uplifting.
- She has a very dark sense of humor, often telling jokes that rely on black humor.
Advanced Usage
- As a stylistic descriptor: The term is often used to categorize a work's tone. (e.g., "a black humor comedy," "a novel of black humor").
- In psychology: The concept is sometimes discussed as a coping mechanism for dealing with trauma or anxiety.
Variants and Related Words
- Black comedy (n): Often used interchangeably with "black humor," though it can specifically refer to a genre of comedy films or plays.
- Dark humor (n): A very common synonym with identical meaning.
- Gallows humor (n): A specific type of black humor arising from a stressful, traumatic, or life-threatening situation, particularly among those involved (e.g., soldiers, medical professionals).
Synonyms
- Dark humor
- Gallows humor
- Morbid humor
- Sick humor
Antonyms
- Slapstick
- Lighthearted humor
- Wholesome comedy
Noun
- the juxtaposition of morbid and farcical elements (in writing or drama) to give a disturbing effect