Humor Amidst Hell
The rise of humor as a coping mechanism amidst society’s ever-changing conditions may appear
to some as insensitive. Although this may be true, it’s also an escape for many people. When we
are faced with a crisis, finding a way to laugh at the threat diminishes its power. Seeking humor
amidst our own personal hells gives us a sense of control over the bad things that happen to us.
Perhaps we cannot change what’s going on, but we can change how we react to it and how we
allow it to make us feel.
Hurricane Helene, for instance, during late September of 2024 became a somewhat trending
topic on TikTok. The devastating weather event destroyed homes, cars, and took lives. As a way
to deal with the destruction headed their way, many took to humor to cope with the catastrophe.
Users posted videos of themselves amidst the hurricane holding American flags against the wind
and dancing in the downpour. While some viewed these videos as disrespectful or dismissive of
the storm’s impacts, it was a psychological buffer against fear for others. By finding a way to
laugh at calamity, people found a way to feel less helpless.
The Emmy Award-winning show “South Park” is a great example of how humor can be used to
cope with difficult topics and situations. Due to how quickly episodes are able to be produced,
the show has managed to stay incredibly relevant and up to date with the latest conversations,
even the more “uncomfortable” ones. Its use of satirical and often exaggerated humor may not
appeal to everyone, but it’s clear that through the show’s extreme and absurd scenarios,
audiences are forced to address serious and sensitive topics in one form or another. The show
makes these “uncomfortable” subjects – discrimination, LGBTQ+ acceptance, and political
disputes – seem more approachable by coating conversations about these topics in humor. The
use of “dark humor” and shocking commentary can provide a sense of catharsis for many
viewers, allowing them to process difficult emotions and laugh at otherwise troubling aspects of
life that feel overwhelming when looked at through a less comical lens.
Even in smaller moments of discomfort, comedy provides relief. The prevalence of
self-deprecating humor isn’t some new phenomenon, but it is significant. Again, when we find
ways to lessen the seriousness of something, we find power in the fact that the situation has no
power over us. What carries weight is not necessarily the humiliation that comes from tripping in
public or fumbling your words, rather, it’s our perception of that time that is most important to
us. Finding comfort in discomfort through humor allows us to reframe otherwise embarrassing
moments and allows us to cope by finding the positive in a perceived negative.