Deadpan Photography Explores Subtle Humor, Human Impact Across US Exhibitions

Deadpan is less a joke type and more a delivery style that often triggers uneasy laughter by subverting audience expectations of expressiveness. Comedian Nathan Fielder exemplifies deadpan with his impassive demeanor on HBO’s “The Rehearsal,” where his monotone and serious approach contrasts with absurd situations, such as impersonating an adult infant. This mode of humor, popularized by silent film actor Buster Keaton, relies on the performer’s restraint and blank expressions to provoke an absurdity that unsettles viewers. Despite seeming paradoxical, deadpan’s power extends beyond performance into photography, where still images capture a similar humor by denying clear emotion or narrative, causing viewers to laugh at their own confusion. Philosopher Ted Cohen describes humor’s “conditional” nature, where deadpan disrupts assumptions and prior knowledge, leading to a nervous or uncomfortable laughter. The technique challenges traditional expectations of comedic expression by presenting a straight face with an ironic wink.