What are Dark Comedy Tropes?
Dark comedy, often referred to as black comedy, is a genre that finds humor in subjects that are typically considered serious, taboo, or distressing. Here are some common tropes associated with dark comedy in TV shows:
- Morbid Humor: Jokes made about death, illness, or tragedy, often subverting the gravity of these subjects.
- Unlikely Heroes: Protagonists who are morally ambiguous, flawed, or outside societal norms, often navigating absurd situations.
- Tragic Backstories: Characters with past traumas that are revealed in humorous or ironic ways, adding depth and complexity.
- Satire: Critique of societal norms, policies, or beliefs through exaggerated and often absurd situations.
- Awkward Social Interactions: Characters find themselves in uncomfortable situations that highlight the absurdity of social norms.
- Dark Irony: Situations where the outcome is profoundly different from what one might expect, often with a bleak twist.
- Absurdism: Scenarios that defy logic and reason, pushing characters into bizarre and surreal predicaments.
These tropes contribute to the uniqueness of dark comedy, inviting viewers to laugh while also examining uncomfortable truths about life.