Dead baby jokes are a
joke cycle
A joke is a display of humour in which words are used within a specific and well-defined narrative structure to make people laughter, laugh and is usually not meant to be interpreted literally. It usually takes the form of a story, often with ...
reflecting
dark comedy. The joke is presented in
riddle form, beginning with a what question and concluded with a grotesque
punch line answer.
History
According to the folklorist scholar
Alan Dundes
Alan Dundes (September 8, 1934 – March 30, 2005) was an American folklorist. He spent much of his career as a professional academic at the University of California, Berkeley and published his ideas in a wide range of books and articles.
H ...
, the dead baby joke cycle likely began in the early 1960s.
Dundes theorizes that the origin of the dead baby joke lies in the rise of
second-wave feminism
Second-wave feminism was a period of feminist activity that began in the early 1960s and lasted roughly two decades. It took place throughout the Western world, and aimed to increase equality for women by building on previous feminist gains.
Wh ...
in the U.S. during that decade and its rejection of the traditional societal role for women, which included support for legalized
abortion
Abortion is the termination of a pregnancy by removal or expulsion of an embryo or fetus. An abortion that occurs without intervention is known as a miscarriage or "spontaneous abortion"; these occur in approximately 30% to 40% of pregn ...
and
contraceptives
Birth control, also known as contraception, anticonception, and fertility control, is the use of methods or devices to prevent unwanted pregnancy. Birth control has been used since ancient times, but effective and safe methods of birth contr ...
. It has also been suggested that the jokes emerged in response to images of graphic violence, often involving infants, from the
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War (also known by #Names, other names) was a conflict in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. It was the second of the Indochina Wars and was officially fought between North Vie ...
.
Examples
What's the difference between a truckload of dead babies and a truckload of bowling balls?
''With bowling balls you can't use pitchforks''.
What's more fun than nailing a baby to a post?
''Ripping it off again''.
What's bright blue, pink, and sizzles?
''A baby breastfeeding on an electrical outlet.''
How do you get 100 dead babies into a box?
''With a blender!''
How many babies does it take to paint a house?
''Depends on how hard you throw them.''
Why did the dead baby cross the road?
''Because it was stapled to the chicken.''
See also
*
The Aristocrats
"The Aristocrats" is a taboo-defying off-color joke that has been told by numerous stand-up comedians since the vaudeville era . It relates the story of a family trying to get an agent to book their stage act, which is revealed to be remarkably ...
*
Black comedy
Black comedy, also known as dark comedy, morbid humor, or gallows humor, is a style of comedy that makes light of subject matter that is generally considered taboo, particularly subjects that are normally considered serious or painful to discus ...
*
Infanticide
Infanticide (or infant homicide) is the intentional killing of infants or offspring. Infanticide was a widespread practice throughout human history that was mainly used to dispose of unwanted children, its main purpose is the prevention of reso ...
*
Sick comedy
*
Cruel jokes
References
{{reflist
Joke cycles
Off-color humor
American humor