Is Sarcasm Endangered?

“Sarcasm is the lowest form of wit, but the highest form of intelligence.”

-          Oscar Wilde

What do Oscar Wilde, Mark Twain, Chandler Bing, and Doug Piranha have in common? Maybe a lot of things, but what I have in mind is sarcasm. Sometimes wicked, dripping-with-irony sarcasm. I’m a big fan of sarcasm. And satire. I grew up with Mad magazine, the National Lampoon, and Monty Python.

What’s the difference between sarcasm and satire? Do a Google search, and you will uncover a firestorm of blogs and comments arguing the semantics of these two words. But, I want to focus on sarcasm, which is generally defined as a verbal, off-the-cuff remark directed at an individual.

A study (oh-oh, another study!) performed by and described by Francesca Gino in Scientific American finds that sarcasm actually increases creativity in both the expresser and the recipient.  How does it increase creativity? By engaging abstract thinking, making the brain work harder. Of course, the sarcasm has to be “used with care and in moderation,” and is best between individuals where trust has been established.

But, in our thin-skinned, easily-offended culture, is sarcasm endangered? In a delightful article on Slate entitled “Who Killed Sarcasm?”, Simon Doonan calls for the return of snide, old-fashioned sarcasm. He describes it as “one of the greatest achievements of mankind—or ‘unkind’ as I prefer to call it.” He even points out the importance of sarcasm to child rearing:

Sardonic irony is a critical to health child development as vitamins and tick-checks. Raising your brats on an exclusive diet of sincerity is a recipe for disaster. The current mania of relentless positivity and self-esteem building leaves me convinced that we are in real danger of turning out an entire generation of inspirational speakers.

Sarcasm, satire, wit. We need them. They’re good for us, increasing creativity, sharpening our thinking, helping us think on our feet. Go forth and be sarcastic!