Self-deprecation

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Self-deprecation is a form of humor in which a comedian makes jokes about himself, his shortcomings, or his culture.

The boundaries for this kind of humor are often more relaxed than for other kinds of humor. For example, whereas a Jewish joke told by a non-Jew may be considered anti-semitic and offensive, the same joke told by a Jew may be taken in good humor. The ability to laugh at oneself and the absurdities in one's own culture is often considered a good character trait.

Many comedians use self-deprecating humor to avoid seeming arrogant or pompous, and to help the audience identify with them. A number of comics, including Conan O'Brien, Phyllis Diller, Rodney Dangerfield, Woody Allen and, later in his career, George Burns built their entire acts around their own perceived unattractiveness, weight, age and/or lack of appeal to the opposite sex. Another prime example of self-deprecation (based on personal shortcomings and continuing failure at life in general) was the character Al Bundy from the long-running Fox sitcom Married with Children, played by Ed O'Neill.