P.S. Dead Baby Jokes Aren't Funny: The Grotesque in Sick Humor

Building on research by folklorists such as Alan Dundes, I examine the cultural significance of the dead baby joke cycle. Coupled with Mikhail Bakhtin's use of the grotesque, I show that the jokes can be read as a verbal carnival that offers a controlled rebellion that acts as a coping mechanism. I go on to explore the ambiguous symbolism of the baby figure and examine the stress caused by considering babies to be less than human. Ultimately, the study shows that the jokes provide a discursive space to deal with the stress and fear of the joke teller's own mortality.