Mark Twain wrote that “the human race has only one really effective weapon and that is laughter.”
It’s easy to underestimate the power of humor to make a difference. Or maybe you know this is true, but have no inkling how to tap into humor on demand.
Becoming aware of “my humor type” has changed my life in many ways, one of which is having easier access to my funny bone. (We all have one, by the way.)
Back in the 80s, all the gals clamored to “get their colors done.” Once you knew your type (Summer, Winter, etc.), you were free to shop like a New Yorker at Bergdorf’s—so confident!
That’s close to how I feel now that I am armed with the knowledge that yes, I have a sense of humor, and, in fact, I know my palette. (Stay tuned…I’ll reveal my innate humor type.)
I’ve studied a lot of what Scott Dikkers has to say about comedy and humor. He’s got the creds, for sure (most people know he founded the publication “The Onion.”)
He has published several books (I was on the editing team for a couple of them) and has a Substack channel worth your time.
Dikkers is where I learned that there are categories and types of humor, and that, once you have the distinctions, you can use them to better create, recognize, develop, appreciate, and enjoy humor.
For example, if you have the seed of a humorous point to add to your writing, consider which angle might Miracle-Grow that seed. Dikkers encourages comedy writers to run every potential joke premise through various filters to see which one creates the funniest result. He calls them “The 11 Funny Filters” and gives headline examples of each (but these filters are definitely not just for headlines).
Irony – intended meaning exact opposite of literal meaning. Example: Alcoholic Father Disappointed in Pothead Son
Character – comedic character acting on his or her traits. Example: Raccoon Leaders Call for Loosening of Garbage-Can Lids
Reference – reference something in real life to something that happened in the reader’s life. Example: FDA Urges America to Check out Weird Looking Potato
Shock – usually sex, violence, death, drugs, swearing, bathroom humor, gross-out humor. Example: HOLY SHIT. Man Walks on Moon.
Hyperbole – exaggerating something to an absurd extreme, something that’s impossible, breaks the realities of science. Example: Area Woman Finally Uploads all 12 million Pictures of her Vacation to Europe on Facebook
Parody – mimic the thing you want to parody as much as possible. Example: See most of SNL's skits.
Wordplay – using words other than their primary function, switching around, rhyming, puns, double entendres. Example: Robot Charged with Battery
Analogy – comparison of two disparate things. Example: Al Gore Places Infant Son in Rocket to Escape Dying Planet
Madcap – when you get silly and crazy and you go to wacky town, nonsensical. Example: Hamster Thrown from Remote Control Monster Truck
—Absurdity - falls under this one, as well: Take the idea to a completely illogical or surreal place. Make it ridiculous or impossible in a way that surprises people. Why it works: Humor often relies on violating expectations. Absurdity does this by breaking logical rules altogether, creating a comedic jolt through something so nonsensical it becomes funny.
Meta-humor – humor that makes fun of other humor or the idea of humor. Example: Comedians No Longer Able to Write Jokes Longer than 140 Characters
Misplaced Focus – you purposefully put your attention on the wrong thing. Example: Missing Boy Scout Earns Publicity Badge
There you have it. You’re on your way to being as sophisticated about humor as a wine connoisseur is about wine. And remember, people may cry over spilled milk, but they usually laugh over spilled wine. [#3: Reference and #8: Analogy]
Through no fault of my own, I’ve got a funny bone that is Absurd (#9). When you make an absurd comment to me that’s meant to be funny, but you say it with a straight face. I get the dopamine rush every time.
When I do it, sometimes it falls flat with others, but I am myself entertained. Example: I was on a light-rail train from my town to a nearby town when the train stopped unexpectedly between stations. Out the window, all I could see were a few cows in a large pasture of sunburned grass. After five minutes, a train attendant walked up the aisle. I got his attention and asked, “Did we have a flat tire?”
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