A character given to gnomic, sarcastic, sometimes bitter, occasionally whimsical asides.
The
Deadpan Snarker exists to deflate pomposity,
point out the unlikelihood of certain plans, and deliver funny lines. Typically a
Deadpan Snarker is
the most cynical supporting character. In most cases, it is implied that the snarker would make a good leader, strategist, or consultant given their ability to
instantly see the flaws in a constructed plan. More often than not, their innate snarkiness is the only thing preventing the other characters from comprehending this for themselves. In other cases, the
Deadpan Snarker resorts to sarcasm because they're the
Only Sane Man.
Often
deconstructed by showing that the
Deadpan Snarker is actually incapable of avoiding sarcasm due to their insecurity about expressing any genuine thought or feeling. This may make them a
Stepford Snarker.
While the Snarker has existed (in both fiction and
Real Life) since time immemorial, its most contemporary incarnation emerged in the early 1930s with the new popularity of sound cinema and the rise of "zinger" comedy. In fact, it was in 1933 that the word "wisecrack" (the Snarker's most trusted sidearm) entered English-language dictionaries. (And, in a stroke of genius,
the word "wisecrack" is itself a wisecrack, carrying the sarcastic connotation of "Oh yeah, you're a real
Socrates, smart guy.")
If the
Deadpan Snarker is in a
Five-Man Band, then he/she'll almost certainly be
The Lancer.
Compare
The Snark Knight,
Little Miss Snarker,
Weasel Mascot,
The Mean Brit,
First-Person Smartass,
Servile Snarker,
Silent Snarker. See also
Snark Bait,
Non-Action Snarker,
Snarky Nonhuman Sidekick,
Cats Are Snarkers,
Tall, Dark and Snarky,
Surrounded by Idiots, and
Sarcastic Devotee. Sometimes overlaps with
Genre Savvy and
No Sense of Humor. A common role for a
Straight Man. May wear
Jade-Colored Glasses. If there are too many of these, you might be in a
World of Snark. Expect plenty of
Snark-to-Snark Combat. May result in
Offing The Mouth.
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