Contrary family humor kernels have elements that directly oppose. Contrary humor is the humor of irony and the humor of sarcasm, and the subcategory adjectives are IRONIC and SARCASTIC. The essence of contrary humor can be expressed in three words: no, it can’t.

Both irony and sarcasm are larger than humor, meaning that many examples are not intended as humor and/or not detected as humor. Clash Theory is concerned only with the examples that also count as humor. Both irony and sarcasm are humorous only when an observer detects a clash between sense and nonsense.

All people don’t use the terms irony and sarcasm in the same way. Some use them more-or-less interchangeably. Clash Theory is introducing new definitions for both that are hopefully a bit more precise (and therefore more cognitively helpful) than other definitions in common use.

Irony is contradictory self-reference. A statue of a smoking man with a No Smoking sign affixed to the base. A stop sign vandalized by adding the word ‘vandalism’. A Drug-Free Workplace poster on the wall of a pharmacy. For clarity, Clash Theory recommends that ‘irony’ be reserved only for examples with both self-reference and contradiction. Humor examples that feature only one, like a book called Toddler Self-Expression thoroughly covered in crayon marks, ought be called ‘near-irony’.

Sarcasm is visibly stating the opposite of what you believe. “I’m super glad to be getting sick.” means you are not super glad. You intend for at least some observers to pick up on your actual beliefs; if not, then what you’re saying is something other than sarcasm.

Cynicism is general negative evaluation of the world around you. Sarcasm is a natural partner when it’s a positive statement of a negative belief. This is sarcasm’s most common embodiment. Clash Theory proposes that this connection is cultural only, and suggests the term ‘positive sarcasm’ for the opposite situation (negative expression of a positive belief). “Boss gave me a raise today. Worst day ever.” Sarcasm does not have to be cynical.

Return to Kernel Spectrum