Line #85 Main/BritishHumour


1	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/british_survey.jpg]]
2	[[caption-width-right:350:As long as we count "fuck off" to mean yes.]]
3
4	->''"It is clear that humour is far superior to humor."''
5	-->-- '''Creator/OscarWilde'''
6
7	[[JustForFun/DescribeTopicHere Describe British Humour here]]. ''Good, 'cause I can't explain it.''
8
9	The [[RuleNumberOne first rule]] of British humour is to mock the monarchy and/or establishment but in a loving and reverent way. Generally known as {{satire}}, there's at least a little bit of truth there. Nobody wants to be [[UpperClassTwit a posh twat]], do they?
10
11	The second rule of British humour is to switch to SarcasmMode at every available opportunity. To expand: [[HumorMode humour is the default setting]] of British conversation unless it absolutely needs to be serious or they're with unfamiliar people.
12
13	[[SelfDemonstratingArticle British humour is often said to go over the heads of everyone else in the world, likely because it's far too sophisticated and pretentious for anybody to really understand, but the British being British all individually decided to pretend like they do, coming up with smart and sarcastic sounding nonsense to keep the game up all these years.]]
14
15	Yeah, that's probably why nobody else really gets it. The Brits are just a bunch of [[DeadpanSnarker sarcastic arseholes]], really.
16
17	The ability to be so flippant about the quality of life -- absurdities of reality, existential dread, self-loathing, and [[PlaceWorseThanDeath how morbidly crap the UK is]] are generally the largest targets of British humour -- probably stems from the fact that, for a lot of history, it wasn't actually bad at all. With stability in real life, you can very well take the piss out of your conditions and it doesn't really wound the soul. Then, when real life actually turned to shit come the highly unprecedented political divisions suddenly appearing and climate change or something fucking the place up, [[RefugeInAudacity satirical humour became a refuge to well in despair, but with a smile]].
18
19	For this reason, the quintessential British comic protagonist (in fantasy and SF especially) is a pervasively unhappy or ill-fitting individual -- most often a snarky trickster sort -- who has managed to make a weapon of their disquiet, cynicism, depression, irreparable frustration, and ennui. Characters such as Granny Weatherwax and Marvin the Paranoid Android live lives of permanent discontent but they manage to use their discontent as a CursedWithAwesome power to triumph where more idealistic or naive folks fail. One can not get more British than that!
20
21	[[SincerityMode What probably makes it really hard to master is the fact that it is a reactive kind of comedy stemming from broad self-referential humour, and with an audience-dependent choice to be made regarding delivery.]] A completely accurate and innocuous statement delivered very seriously in appropriate circumstances can be quintessential British humour if it's all in place. One thing that makes this possible is perhaps the nigh-National consciousness and intimate knowledge of items and issues, and a shared sense of humour, reliant on the British society being so small and unique, and the general concerns of the nation amounting to high interest in general education and politics. And a well-timed "piss off" will be both a PrecisionFStrike and quite funny.
22
23	The most confusing part about British humour (besides all of it) has to be the fact that ''it isn't comedy''. Comedy and humour are quite different, and British humour is more amusing quips in regular conversation than a joke shop. You don't laugh (and have you ever seen a British person laugh and look respectable at the same time? It's impossible, so they developed a humour that prevents the shame of guffaw), except a little. Since a lot of the structures and ideas don't translate well, either, this really means that there are zero indications of humour for foreigners, who usually think their British company is batting non-sequiturs between each other for no good reason. Whatever, loser. [[ComicallyMissingThePoint People not getting it has become funny itself.]]
24
25	British humour can be said to exploit a version of PoesLaw in a way: you've got to be in on the practice to really understand if someone is being serious or being funny. It's like a really big InJoke.
26
27	Common elements of British humour that have tropes. Just don't try too hard or you come off as only slightly less pathetic than if you'd actually done it well:
28
29	[[foldercontrol]]
30	[[folder:A-G]]
31	[[index]]
32	* AccentDepundent
33	* AccentuateTheNegative
34	* AntiHumor
35	* {{Bathos}}
36	* BigLippedAlligatorMoment
37	* BitingTheHandHumour
38	* BlackComedy
39	* Administrivia/BrevityIsWit
40	* BrickJoke
41	* CannotTellAJoke
42	* TheComicallySerious
43	* TheCynic
44	* DeadpanSnarker
45	* DoubleEntendre
46	* GallowsHumour
47	* GeniusBonus
48	[[/index]]
49	[[/folder]]
50
51	[[folder:H-M]]
52	* HypocriticalHumour
53	* {{Innuendo\|Tropes}}
54	* InsultBackfire
55	* InsultOfEndearment
56	* {{Irony}}
57	* JuxtapositionGag
58	* [[LiteralMinded Literal Gag]]
59	* LiteralistSnarking
60	* MajorInjuryUnderreaction
61	* MathematiciansAnswer
62	* MultipleReferencePun
63	[[/index]]
64	[[/folder]]
65
66	[[folder:N-W & Miscellaneous]]
67	[[index]]
68	* NoMeansYes
69	* OneLiner
70	* PurpleProse
71	* SarcasmMode
72	* {{Satire}}
73	* SelfDeprecation
74	* SeparatedByACommonLanguage
75	* SirSwearsALot
76	* SnarkToSnarkCombat
77	* SophisticatedAsHell -- you mean it's not funny combining an affected RP dialect with copious curses?
78	** Also note that because the terribly dirty British humour is considered [[Theatre/{{Hamlet}} the highest form of wit]] [[note]]I thought it was [[Creator/OscarWilde the lowest]]?[[/note]], it is actually the first language of many National Treasures and renowned ShakespearianActors. Doesn't hurt that [[JustForFun/TheZerothLawOfTropeExamples Shakespeare helped refine it]], too.
79	* SubvertedPunchline
80	* SurrealHumour
81	* {{Understatement}}
82	* UnsympatheticComedyProtagonist
83	* UnusuallyUninterestingSight
84	* WhosOnFirst
85	* WordSaladHumor
86
87	* See also: ''TabletopGame/CardsAgainstHumanity''. The basis for this game (especially in the ways it is ''unlike'' TabletopGame/ApplesToApples) can be seen as the way that statement formulation can be a part of British humour -- just about current affairs (instead of, say, Creator/DanielRadcliffe's asshole), like Daniel Radcliffe's arsehole.
88	[[/index]]
89	[[/folder]]
90
91	And, because they've got to be special, someone [[http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/joking-aside-british-really-do-have-unique-sense-of-humour-793491.html did an actual study]] proving that the understanding of, and inclination towards, negative humour (biting statements, teasing, self-deprecation) is not only in the genes of British people, but also not in anyone else's. Sorry, I've got to, my mum gave me these genes.
92
93	!!Here's a flavour, don't worry, we won't charge:
94	->'''Brit 1:''' [[UsefulNotes/BritishWeather Guess we should]] TalkAboutTheWeather.\
95	'''Brit 2:''' It's lovely today, isn't it.\
96	''(thunderstorm destroys the bridge)''\
97	'''Brit 2:''' Oh, well, looks like I might be a bit late for ''{{Series/Cor\|onationStreet}}rie'' tonight.\
98	'''Brit 1:''' Yes, only my great aunt Vera and her arthritic cat knows how much insurance'll go up at a time like this.\
99	'''Brit 2:''' [[BritsLoveTea Tea?]]
100
101	->'''GDLA Interviewer:''' Did you read ''Literature/PaperTowns'' before the movie? [para]\
102	'''Creator/CaraDelevingne:''' No, I never read the book or the script, I just winged it.
103
104	->'''Brit 1:''' How was your holiday?\
105	'''Brit 2:''' Shite. Kids' entertainment was free and a pint was only 1 euro. Sun every day, too.\
106	'''Brit 1:''' Ghastly, must be glad to be back at work.\
107	'''Brit 2:''' You have no idea how much I love sucking our awful boss' balls.
108
109	->'''Ed Balls:''' [[https://twitter.com/edballs/status/63623585020915713?lang=en Ed Balls.]]
110	----
111	!!Sample of works that are based in British humour:
112	[[folder:Animation]]
113	* ''WebAnimation/{{asdfmovie}}''
114	* ''WesternAnimation/CountDuckula''
115	[[/folder]]
116
117	[[folder:Comics]]
118	* ''ComicStrip/AndyCapp''
119	* ''ComicStrip/ThePerishers''
120	* ''ComicBook/{{Viz}}''
121	[[/folder]]
122
123	[[folder:Film -- Live-Action]]
124	* ''Film/ThreeFlavoursCornettoTrilogy''
125	** ''Film/ShaunOfTheDead''
126	** ''Film/HotFuzz''
127	** ''Film/TheWorldsEnd''
128	* Creator/SachaBaronCohen
129	** ''Film/AliGIndahouse''
130	** ''Film/{{Borat}}''
131	** ''Film/Bruno2009''
132	** ''Film/TheDictator''
133	** ''Film/{{Grimsby}}''
134	* ''Film/FourLions''
135	[[/folder]]
136
137	[[folder:Franchises]]
138	* ''Franchise/CarryOnSeries''
139	** [[Film/CarryOnSeries The films]]
140	** [[Series/CarryOnChristmas The Christmas specials]]
141	** ''Series/CarryOnLaughing''
142	* Creator/CharlieBrooker
143	* ''Series/TheGoodies''
144	* ''Franchise/TheHitchhikersGuideToTheGalaxy''
145	* ''Franchise/MrBean''
146	* Creator/MontyPython
147	* Creator/VictoriaWood:
148	** ''Series/VictoriaWoodAsSeenOnTV''
149	** ''Series/{{dinnerladies}}''
150	* ''WesternAnimation/WallaceAndGromit''
151	[[/folder]]
152
153	[[folder:Literature]]
154	* ''Literature/{{Englishman}}''
155	* ''Literature/GamerGirl2016''
156	[[/folder]]
157
158	[[folder:Magazines]]
159	* ''Magazine/NGamer''
160	* ''Magazine/PrivateEye''
161	[[/folder]]
162
163	[[folder:Panel Shows]]
164	* [[PanelGame All of them]].
165	* ''Series/EightOutOfTenCats''
166	* ''Series/HaveIGotNewsForYou''
167	* ''Series/TheLastLeg''
168	* ''Series/MockTheWeek''
169	* ''Series/NeverMindTheBuzzcocks''
170	* ''Series/{{QI}}''
171	* ''Series/ThatWasTheWeekThatWas''
172	* ''Series/TheyThinkItsAllOver''
173	* ''Series/VirtuallyFamous''
174	* ''Series/WouldILieToYou''
175	* ''Series/YouHaveBeenWatching''
176	[[/folder]]
177
178	[[folder:Radio]]
179	* ''Radio/ImSorryIHaventAClue'' (also a Panel Game)
180	[[/folder]]
181
182	[[folder:Sketch Comedy]]
183	* ''Series/ABitOfFryAndLaurie''
184	* ''Series/TheCatherineTateShow''
185	* ''Series/{{Jam}}''
186	* ''Series/NoelFieldingsLuxuryComedy''
187	[[/folder]]
188
189	[[folder:TV]]
190	* Everything that airs on Creator/Channel4
191	* ''Series/ABitOfFryAndLaurie''
192	* ''Series/TheCatherineTateShow''
193	* ''Series/Chef1993''
194	* ''Series/MyFamily''
195	* ''Series/FawltyTowers''
196	* ''Series/GarthMarenghisDarkplace''
197	* ''Series/Miranda2009''
198	* ''Series/MurderMostHorrid''
199	* ''Series/NightyNight''
200	* ''Series/NotGoingOut''
201	* ''Series/TheOfficeUK'' (yes, the American version. [[LittleNo No]].)
202	* ''Series/TheTwoRonnies''
203	* ''Series/{{Vicious}}''
204	[[/folder]]
205
206	[[folder:Video Games]]
207	* Creator/{{Rare}}:
208	** ''VideoGame/BanjoKazooie''
209	** ''VideoGame/DonkeyKong64''
210	** ''VideoGame/BanjoTooie''
211	** ''VideoGame/ConkersBadFurDay''
212	[[/folder]]
213
214	[[folder:Websites]]
215	* ''Website/NewsBiscuit''
216	[[/folder]]
217
218	[[folder:Web Videos]]
219	* ''WebVideo/DontHugMeImScared''
220	[[/folder]]
221
222	[[folder:Other]]
223	* ''UsefulNotes/ComicRelief''
224	* ''Series/EurovisionSongContest'' (British broadcast, except for that one year when the rest of Europe found the stadium narration of [[Series/TheGrahamNortonShow Graham Norton]] so funny that they put him on for everyone)
225	[[/folder]]
226
227	'''Not massively related to the BritCom, the AwfulBritishSexComedy, or [[BritishActorsAndComedians British Comedians]], but these can all contain British humour.'''
228
229	----
230	Oh, and [[TakeThat taking the piss out of America]].
231	----
232	[[spoiler:Don't worry, it grows on you]].

Context Main / BritishHumour