THE 10 MAIN TYPES OF HUMOR AND THEIR CHARACTERISTICS - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2025

The main types of humor are absurd, white, raw, grotesque, hacker, black, satirical, sarcastic, dry and green. What is considered comical or that causes a state of exaltation derived from laughter, is a sensation that presents a wide range of nuances.

Within the various categories such as verbal, non-verbal, literary and graphic humor, it is not possible to cover the entire spectrum related to possible causes, such as psychological, philosophical and even psychosomatic aspects.

There are psychological theories that encapsulate quite concisely the type of humor present in human beings and that manifests itself in various ways. This is also the case with philosophy, which although it is a little explored subject, theories are well known: superiority, relief, juxtaposed incongruity and more.

As a sensation that is externalized through involuntary or not mechanisms, humor can present a classification based on the content of what is said, seen, sensed, known or heard.

Following this premise, experts on the subject have described various classes such as: absurd, white, crude, grotesque, hacker, black, satirical, sarcastic, dry and green humor.

Classification of types of humor

Absurd humor

Also known as surreal, super-realistic and with an affinity with the grotesque if it is understood as an alternate reality of the human being. It uses verbal or written expressions, as well as representations, that evoke unreal, impossible or incoherent situations in relation to everyday life that is manifested objectively.

This designation can also be applied to circumstances that are meaningless and that do not appear to have a consistent explanation. This kind of humorous representation covers the entire spectrum of the imagination, so it can be difficult to understand. Likewise, this distortion presents a paradoxical quality that glimpses the essence of reality.

Among the popular references there are groups like Monty Python from the 60s to the 80s who were a great influence for several generations. The same happens with the Spanish Faemino and Cansado, series like Muchachada Nui and cartoons like Looney Tunes, Ren & Stimpy, SpongeBob, Gumball, One more show, Dexter's laboratory, Clarence, among others.

White humor

This kind of representation is based on references that express a healthy or clean humorous idea, free of harshness or a tacit negative connotation. It is a much more innocent form of communication intended for children, adolescents and representatives without resorting to offensive forms or that reveal any kind of malicious intent.

This notion of purity leaves aside mockery, cynicism, irony, racism, sexism, among other forms of expression. This childlike character makes it appropriate for any occasion, especially when you do not want to offend anyone in the audience. It is also known as a living room joke for having that tendency to avoid insults or obscenities.

Some emblematic figures of this genre are the Mexicans Chespirito, Capulina and Mauricio Herrera. In addition, the trio of Spanish clowns Gaby, Fofó and Miliki, along with the Chilean Firulete and the Costa Rican Gorgojo, have stood out in this genre. Animated children's movies also feature recurring examples of this kind of humor.

Crude humor

The foundation of this humorous idea lies in situations or circumstances that are embarrassing, ridiculing and painful for those involved. Called slapstick in Anglo-Saxon culture, it is loaded with real or simulated bodily violence to generate the desired effect on the audience.

This type of physical comedy also involves high doses of explicit sexual references, obscene words or vulgarities, and all kinds of cruelty or excess related to the body and the images of hurt people. Given its visual nature, it is basically portrayed in media that allow it to be enjoyed more directly.

Shows that made this style of comedy fashionable and that are widely recognized began with The Three Stooges. More recently, Jackass and The Dudesons have become media phenomena portraying these kinds of stunts or dangerous scenes where someone is slightly or seriously injured.

Grotesque humor

This comic category had its origin in the Italian word "grotta", which is related to the alteration of the traditionally aesthetic and proportionate. Consequently, it comes to designate that which is strange, ridiculous, eccentric, fantastic and irrational. It is a mixture of animalization, caricature, horror and also a certain indifference.

It is intensely related to the arts, such as literature, painting, and even sculpture. Cartoons are a clear example of taking proportions to the extreme and playing with the beauty and ugliness of things or people. Incongruity is a comic element that is present in various forms of humor, and here it is no exception.

The objectification with features of decadence, monstrosity and deformation give rise to a mixture of emotions, where unease, anguish and the terrifying converge.

In the grotesque there is a familiar yet strange feeling that is full of bewilderment and perplexity, which also incorporates a surreal and illogical character in relation to its appreciation.

Hacker humor

Derived from the computer culture, this type of humor arises from those experts who use their own language derived from programming. These are usually elaborate parodies that are related to documents, files, standards, codes, specifications, languages, and related items.

A common way to express this kind of humor is through RFCs, which are requests for comments that describe standard internet protocols.

These referencing sources have a formal language that is usually manipulated in a humorous way as an inside joke made with ingenuity, and that are understood by hackers or programmers.

Black mood

This humorous manifestation has its origin in the opposition to 20th century romanticism. It is characterized by irony, sarcasm, satire, skepticism and is even linked to the absurd and the grotesque. Its essence is pessimism, death and themes that are related to human tragedy, the drama of life and the pathetic of being.

It has been billed as a perspective that encompasses dark, painful, contentious, and controversial issues for people. This is largely due to the fact that this type of expression constantly questions the moral fiber of society, its norms of coexistence, the tendency to be politically correct and the role that the human being should play.

For this reason, and because it has a wide spectrum of influence, it is used to poke fun at discrimination, politics, religion, war, violence and sexuality. Other sensitive topics that may come up include terrorism, drug addiction, racism, rape, disabilities, and much more.

In film and television there are also many exponents, such as Charles Chaplin, The Marx Brothers, Stanley Kubrick, Alex de la Iglesia, Martin McDonagh, Quentin Tarantino and Tim Burton. Series such as South Park, American Dad, Family Guy, among others, are also known.

Both in literature, as in film and television there are many references to black humor. Writers like André Breton, Samuel Beckett, Roal Dahl, Anton Chekhov, Mark Twain and more are clear examples.

Satirical humor

Satire is a very old discursive device that uses the power of humor to criticize and denounce. It tends to be didactic, moralizing and to use ridicule to highlight the flaws and vices that are evident in the human race. Burlesque or playful resources are also common within the different forms of expression, especially literary.

Within literature it includes a great variety of genres, such as grotesque tragedy, grotesque, picaresque novel, fable and also in graphic publications. It is very common to find satire in posters, movies, television shows that make use of comic situations as an effective way of making social criticism.

Also known as a comedy of errors, it can include elements such as farce, which includes a series of unlikely coincidences. In some moments it presents a sequence of events that happen with a frantic speed and in which situations that border between the ridiculous and the impossible can be included.

Sarcastic humor

Derived from the word "sarx", which means meat, this humorous manifestation makes use of cruelty, sharpness and sadism to obtain the desired effect. It is closely related to parody, which has been defined as the transformation from a serious situation to one with a more familiar quality.

Its foundation lies in the devaluation or degradation in relation to the target object or subject of this expression. This willful contempt serves as mockery, which also includes parody and ridicule. It is precisely this contrast of values ​​that generates the humorous effect for those who can appreciate its intentionality.

In this category, irony is also used, which is associated with an implicit rebellion against the established status quo. Many times what is said has an opposite meaning with respect to the literal sense. In addition, it makes use of expressions considered caustic, resembling a corrosive substance that is harmful.

Dry humor

This comic variant is known in English as Deadpan and is related to the exposition of what is considered funny without any kind of body language. In essence, the interlocutor does not show emotions, so your message is monotonous, serious, informal and natural at the same time.

He is also characterized by an air of naivety, insincerity, and little attention to the facts that surround him. Since it manifests absolute tranquility and a feeling of immutability, it tends to hide very well the intentionality of someone who tries to say something funny while being indifferent to the context or the situation.

There are several exponents of this genre that is framed within stand-up, television and cinema. Famous examples are comedians like Bill Murray, Eugenio, Juan Verdaguer, Seth Roguen, Zach Galifianakis, Cacho Garay, Ricardo Quevedo, Felo, and many more. Also, characters played by Chevy Chase, Christopher Walken, Leslie Nielse, Peter Sellers, Tommy Lee Jones, among others.

Green mood

Although the previous categories can use obscenity, vulgar language and implicit or explicit sexuality as a resource, these characteristics are more typical of this type of humor.

Due to its content that is vulgar in nature, risqué, and even tacky for some, it is often confined to older audiences and from all walks of life.

The resources for this category are varied, especially in media that have a greater diffusion such as cinema, television, the Internet and graphic publications.

They have a great affinity with rawness, since they do not require filters to convey their message as in other forms of humor that are a bit more elaborate or that require a certain level of coding.

Psychological classification

From another perspective, humor has also been investigated for its psychological nature. The sense of humor can have different facets, which are not identifiable from the beginning when you come into contact with a person.

Since it is a very personal characteristic that derives from a multiplicity of factors, each variant can make different impressions on those who experience it. Therefore, experts and scholars on the subject have identified 4 main types.

Connective humor

It makes use of what most people find funny and with which they can relate. Use funny everyday actions, situations, or occurrences to create a sense of happiness, well-being, and camaraderie.

Aggressive humor

Depending on its name, it involves insults or harassment against people. It is typical of comedians who want to abuse others, threatening or hurting them psychologically. It is both funny and uncomfortable for some.

Firming mood

It serves as therapy to overcome an adverse situation in which an individual may be immersed. It arises from the ability to laugh at oneself and is a healthy way of dealing with stress, finding humor in those everyday situations that affect us.

Self-destructive humor

This kind of expression is given by self-punishment using aggressiveness or by pity. Although it is considered an unhealthy humorous manifestation, it can also be a form of indirect defense against abusers or bullies.

References

1. Absurd humor, white humor, hacker humor, black humor and dry humor (2017). Web: es.wikipedia.org.
2. Ronald E. Reggio (2015). The 4 Styles of Humor. Web: psychologytoday.com.
3. Silvia Hernández Muñoz (2012). Species of humor. Web: monografica.org.
4. Mark Nichol (undated). 20 Types and Forms of Humors. Web: dailywritingtips.com.