Comedy Analysis: Non-verbal humour

Visual, non-verbal humour: the object is in an unexpected place

Non-verbal humour, also known as visual humour, is a form of humour and comedy that doesn't use dialogue, or uses minimum dialogue. This form of comedy was extremely popular during the days of the silent film. It is however, still very popular and can often be seen in series, films and even commercials.

Many visual humour depends on the comedian using his body as a tool. By doing funny or unexpected things with a body, hilarity can be achieved. A technique that's often used, is the use of clothing that doesn't fit well. Having clothes that are a size or two too large or too small help create a character for the comedian.

Objects, as well as humans and animals, can become funny by following one of more of the rules of visual comedy. These are:

1 – an object can become funny when it behaves in an unexpected way

2 – an object can become funny when it is in an unexpected place

3 – an object can become funny when it is the wrong size

An example of number 1 is an object that comes to life, or a human behaving like an animal (and vice versa). Number two can for instance be a car on the roof, a banana on the head or a horse in the kitchen presser. Number three can for instance be a giant sandwich, such as in the Young Ones, where a woman gets squashed under a sandwich the size of a couch. In this scene the non-verbal humour is made funnier by a verbal remark: Neil, the vegetarian hippie, who complains the sandwich isn't vegetarian with a complete deadpan expression.

Charlie Chaplin used non-verbal humour to great effect

The comedian can also combine 2 or 3 of these rules in order to achieve hilarious scenes. They should keep in mind though, that combining 2 or 3 rules, doesn't necessarily make something 2 or 3 times as funny. If done well however, a combination of the rules can result in absolute hilarity.

Animated comedy is able to push these rules to the extremes. In animation it is possible to have a double-decker bus do a somersault, have a cat grow to 500 feet in height or have objects appear or disappear at will.

A lot of visual comedy works with slapstick and violence. These forms of comedy are as old as comedy itself and, since they don't require much dialogue, they were immensely popular during the silent film era. They are these days still used in any medium you can think of. The reception of pain by the comedian can be made funny by using a deadpan face or by means of understatement or exaggeration.

 Visual humour can also be achieved through absurd situation. In general, the more absurd and astonishing a situation or object becomes, the funnier it can get. For instance a banana that bends away from the mouth when someone wants to eat it, is funny. A banana that bends away, leaps to the ground, grows 300 feet high and wreaks havoc is funnier, because it is absurder and it utilises rules 1 and 3 (and possibly 2, depending on its location).

In visual comedy there is one constant: somebody (usually the comedian) suffers. Therefore the visual comedian is a constant victim. He is however indestructible. He can take whatever the humour throws at him but will survive in the end. Humour never dies.