Self-deprecation
Self-deprecation is a form of humor where comedians make jokes about themselves or their culture.
Self-deprecating humor relies on the observation of something negative about the person delivering the commentary. Many comedians use self-deprecating humor to avoid seeming arrogant or pompous, and to help the audience identify with them. In this way, the use of self-deprecating humor could be seen as an application of the rhetorical concept of ethos.
Comedians using self-deprecating humor
Rodney Dangerfield was well known for his self-deprecating humor in his standup routines, as evidenced by his famous line "I get no respect."
A number of other comedians, including Chelsea Handler, Paolo Alcota, Craig Ferguson, Conan O'Brien, Chris Farley, Chris Tucker, Steve Harvey, Sinbad, Adam Carolla, Jon Stewart, Artie Lange, Dave Attell, Larry the Cable Guy, Woody Allen, David Letterman, Sean Rouse, Nick Jones, Louis CK, Larry David, Ricky Gervais, Jo Brand, Victoria Wood, Zach Galifianakis, Jim Gaffigan, Iain Lee, Dave Hughes, Carrot Top, Johnny Vegas, Brian Regan, Jim Norton, Dave Chappelle, Bob Hope, Bill Hicks, and, later in his career, George Burns, built much of their acts around their own perceived unattractiveness, weight, age and/or lack of appeal to the opposite sex.
Uses of self-deprecating humor
Self-deprecation can also be used to better oneself in social situations, using the intentional lowering of one's social reputation to mask internal arrogance or to seem less threatening in social situations. [1]
Self-deprecation can also refer to making negative statements regarding one's own appearance or abilities, such as saying "I'm so fat" or "I'm such an idiot", often with the intended result that their friends tell them that they really are not. Statements and patterns of behavior such as these may indicate self-image or self-esteem problems.
See also
References
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