Here’s my take on dark humor-it’s funny, it’s fun to make and life’s short. The website Literary devices.net defines dark or black humor as: “...a literary device used in novels and plays to discuss taboo subjects while adding an element of comedy. The Russian scholar, Nikolay N. Gubanov defines black humor as, “...the line that we hesitatingly still crave to step across. A successful black joke often causes a mixture of feelings – shock, disgust, shame, and, of course, joy.” Visual artists know a thing or two as well about black humor. There’s a whole host of artists out there painting funny/creepy/dark in the metaphoric shadows. Check out Alex Gamsu Jenkins or the artist @ghoulorama and finally, perhaps the godfather of black visual humor David Shrigley
I hew close to the above definitions in my own work. I believe dark humor is an unlocked door to a land where you get to talk about things too awful to consider. Leavened with laughter, these topics join the party carrying champagne. Growing up, my parents revered correct and appropriate ways of doing and being. Dark and humorous art is my reverse legacy-thanks Mom and Dad. . Still, I do have some no-go topics (domestic violence and animal cruelty come to mind). Too damn hateful to be funny is my criteria for exclusion. That leaves the field sort of wide open as evidenced by my current oeuvre. I don’t present myself as any sort of expert on black humor. I’ll leave that to the Russians. And, of course, dark without the humor is sort of like eating a green salad without dressing- you can certainly do it but you’re definitely not going to enjoy it. Here’s a peek at my own dark path over the last 40 years of artmaking.
I’m curious what sort of dark or black humor others appreciate and enjoy? If you’ve read this far you’ve got your own ideas about dark humor. What limits and boundaries apply to you or are those moving targets? How funny do you have to be to create dark and funny art? This famous painting by Caravaggio is universally considered one of the darkest any artist of the era produced but few would call it funny. Perhaps Midjourney can give us a whole new movement where dark becomes dark humor with the right prompts. Here’s a joke that’s a good starting point for measuring your own darkness. Funny, not funny or hilarious--
“Why did the monkey fall out of the tree?
It was dead.”
Take my survey (here) to vote for your own flavor of dark and funny. In my next newsletter/blog I’ll discuss the (anonymous) survey results. I’ll also look at why some really smart folk think dark humor promotes human progress. Of why, as an artist, I should even care.
WIP, ETC
