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Toilet humour

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From a series of woodcuts (1545) usually referred to as the Papstspotbilder or Papstspottbilder in German or Depictions of the Papacy in English,[1] by Lucas Cranach, commissioned by Martin Luther.[2] Title: Kissing the Pope's Feet.[a] German peasants respond to a papal bull of Pope Paul III. Caption reads: "Don't frighten us Pope, with your ban, and don't be such a furious man. Otherwise we shall turn around and show you our rears."[b][3]

Toilet humour, potty humour or scatological humour (compare scatology), is a type of off-colour humour dealing with defecation (including diarrhea and constipation), urination and flatulence, and to a lesser extent vomiting and other bodily functions.

Toilet humour is commonly an interest of toddlers and young children, for whom cultural taboos related to acknowledgement of waste excretion still have a degree of novelty. The humour comes from the rejection of such taboos, and is a part of modern culture.[4]


Toilet humor—also known as potty humor, scatological humor, or bathroom humor—has been a staple of human comedy for centuries, if not millennia. Defined as humor derived from bodily functions, excretory processes, or the taboo nature of the bathroom, toilet humor transcends cultures, ages, and social strata. From ancient graffiti to modern sitcoms, fart jokes to flush valves, this form of comedy holds a peculiar yet undeniable place in the human experience. This essay delves into the origins, psychology, cultural variations, evolution, and modern manifestations of toilet humor, revealing why something so seemingly crude continues to elicit laughter across the globe.

I. The Origins of Toilet Humor: A Historical Perspective

Toilet humor is as old as human civilization itself, with evidence of scatological jests appearing in some of the earliest written records. The taboo nature of bodily functions—particularly those related to excretion—has long made them a fertile ground for humor, as breaking social norms often elicits laughter.

1.  Ancient Civilizations

•  Mesopotamia and Egypt: One of the earliest known examples of toilet humor comes from ancient Sumer, circa 1900 BCE, where a clay tablet inscribed with a joke reads: “Something which has never occurred since time immemorial: a young woman did not fart in her husband’s lap.” This quip highlights the timelessness of flatulence as a comedic device. In ancient Egypt, hieroglyphs and papyri occasionally depicted exaggerated bodily functions for satirical effect, often mocking the elite.

•  Ancient Greece and Rome: The Greeks embraced scatological humor in their comedies, with playwright Aristophanes incorporating fart jokes and excretory gags in works like The Clouds. Roman literature, such as the Satyricon by Petronius, featured crude humor, and public latrines were often adorned with bawdy graffiti, suggesting that bathroom humor was a communal pastime. Emperor Claudius reportedly believed that farting should be destigmatized, further cementing the Romans’ relaxed attitude toward such humor.

•  Medieval Europe: The Middle Ages saw toilet humor flourish in literature and folklore. Geoffrey Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales (14th century) includes the bawdy Miller’s Tale, where a character is tricked into kissing another’s buttocks, accompanied by a loud fart. Medieval carnivals and festivals often featured scatological performances, where jesters and actors used bodily humor to subvert authority.

2.  Cross-Cultural Roots

Toilet humor is not exclusive to Western traditions. In ancient China, the Classic of Poetry (Shijing) contains subtle references to bodily functions for comedic effect. Japanese folklore includes stories of kappa (water spirits) who engage in fart battles, and the Edo period saw the rise of otogi-zoshi, humorous tales with scatological elements. Indigenous cultures, such as the Aboriginal peoples of Australia, incorporated bodily humor into oral storytelling, often using it to teach moral lessons or mock vanity.

The universality of toilet humor in ancient societies underscores its roots in the human condition: bodily functions are a shared experience, and their taboo nature makes them ripe for comedic exploration.

II. The Psychology of Toilet Humor: Why Do We Laugh?

Toilet humor’s enduring appeal lies in its ability to tap into deep psychological and social mechanisms. Laughter at a fart joke or a toilet mishap is not merely a reaction to crudeness but a complex interplay of biology, socialization, and rebellion.

1.  Breaking Taboos

Bodily functions, particularly those related to excretion, are universally taboo to varying degrees. These taboos arise from social norms around cleanliness, privacy, and propriety. Toilet humor derives its power from violating these norms, creating a sense of release and rebellion. As Sigmund Freud noted in his theory of humor, jokes often serve as a socially acceptable way to express repressed desires or discomfort. Laughing at a fart joke allows us to momentarily defy societal expectations without consequence.

2.  The Element of Surprise

Many toilet humor gags rely on the unexpected—a loud fart in a quiet room, a toilet overflowing at an inopportune moment. This surprise triggers an instinctive laugh response, as the brain processes the incongruity between expectation and reality. Cognitive scientist Peter McGraw’s Benign Violation Theory suggests that humor arises when something is simultaneously wrong (a violation) yet harmless (benign). A fart in a formal setting is a perfect example: it’s socially inappropriate but ultimately harmless, making it funny.

3.  Developmental Appeal

Toilet humor is particularly prevalent among children, often peaking between ages 4 and 10. Developmental psychologists argue that this stems from children’s fascination with their bodies as they navigate toilet training and social norms. For kids, mastering bodily functions is a source of pride, and joking about them is a way to assert control over a once-uncontrollable process. This explains why children’s books like Captain Underpants or The Day My Butt Went Psycho are perennial favorites.

4.  Social Bonding

Laughing at toilet humor fosters camaraderie, as it signals shared humanity. In group settings, a well-timed fart joke can break the ice, leveling social hierarchies by reminding everyone of their bodily commonality. Evolutionary psychologists suggest that humor, including scatological humor, evolved to strengthen group cohesion, making toilet humor a surprisingly effective social glue.

III. Cultural Variations: Toilet Humor Around the World

While toilet humor is universal, its expression and reception vary widely across cultures, reflecting differing attitudes toward bodily functions, privacy, and propriety.

1.  Western Cultures

•  United States: American toilet humor often leans on slapstick and exaggeration, as seen in films like Dumb and Dumber (1994), where a prolonged toilet scene elicits groans and giggles. Children’s media, such as SpongeBob SquarePants or Diary of a Wimpy Kid, frequently uses bathroom gags to appeal to young audiences. However, American culture’s Puritan streak means that toilet humor can be polarizing, with some viewing it as lowbrow or offensive.

•  United Kingdom: The UK has a rich tradition of scatological humor, from Chaucer to modern comedies like The Inbetweeners. British humor often pairs toilet gags with wordplay or irony, reflecting a cultural tolerance for cheeky irreverence. Shows like Monty Python’s Flying Circus elevated fart jokes to absurdist art.

2.  East Asian Cultures

•  Japan: Japan embraces toilet humor with a unique blend of playfulness and openness. The kanji for “fart” (屁, he) appears in children’s songs and anime, and the country has a thriving market for fart-themed toys and games. The Toilet Museum in Tokyo celebrates bathroom culture, and characters like Dr. Slump’s poo-shaped mascot normalize scatological humor. Japan’s relatively relaxed attitude toward bodily functions contrasts with its reputation for politeness.

•  China: Chinese toilet humor often appears in folklore and slang but is less prominent in mainstream media due to cultural emphasis on decorum. However, internet memes and viral videos featuring bathroom mishaps have gained traction among younger generations.

3.  Other Regions

•  India: Indian toilet humor often appears in regional cinema and street theater, where bodily functions are mocked to highlight human folly. However, public discussion of bathrooms can be sensitive due to sanitation challenges and cultural modesty.

•  Middle East: Scatological humor exists in Arabic literature, such as the One Thousand and One Nights, but is often veiled in metaphor to align with cultural norms around propriety. Modern stand-up comedians in the region occasionally use toilet humor to challenge conservative attitudes.

•  Africa: Many African oral traditions incorporate bodily humor to teach humility or critique authority. South African comedian Trevor Noah has referenced fart jokes as a universal icebreaker, reflecting the continent’s diverse comedic landscape.

These variations highlight how toilet humor adapts to cultural contexts, balancing universal appeal with local sensibilities.

IV. The Evolution of Toilet Humor in Media

Toilet humor has evolved alongside media, from oral storytelling to digital platforms, reflecting changes in technology, audience tastes, and social norms.

1.  Literature and Theater

Early literature, from The Decameron to Gargantua and Pantagruel, used scatological humor to satirize the powerful and celebrate the absurd. Elizabethan theater, including Shakespeare’s works, sprinkled fart jokes to delight groundlings. By the 19th century, authors like Mark Twain employed subtle bathroom humor to critique societal hypocrisy.

2.  Film and Television

The 20th century saw toilet humor explode in visual media. Silent films used physical comedy, like Charlie Chaplin’s pratfalls, to evoke bathroom gags without dialogue. The 1970s and 1980s brought raunchy comedies like Blazing

Music

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Toilet humour is sometimes found in song and rhyme, particularly schoolboy songs. Examples of this are found in Mozart and scatology, and variants of the German folk schoolboys' song known as the Scheiße-Lied (English: "Shit-Song")[5][6] which is indexed in the German Volksliederarchiv.[7] A children's Spanish musical duo, Enrique y Ana, made a song called "Caca Culo Pedo Pis", which literally translates to "Poop Butt Fart Pee".[8]

Detroit rapper Eminem famously utilises crude humour throughout his discography. His most notorious example of toilet humour was featured on the 2017 album Revival, where he raps "Your booty is heavy duty, like diarrhea", a line which received extensive lament from critics.[9][10] The Los Angeles Times comments: "If Hannibal Lecter could have recorded a rap album, this would have been it. Brilliant, sinister, scatological and a parent's nightmare."[11]

Performance

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Urinating statues at the Fountain of Diana
Urinating statues at the Fountain of Diana

Paul Oldfield, who performed under the name Mr. Methane,[12] performed a stage act that included him farting the notes of music.[13] Joseph Pujol, who performed under the name Le Pétomane (French for "fart maniac"), performed a similar stage act for the Paris music hall scene.[12]

The American comedy duo Tim & Eric have made numerous comedy sketches based around toilet humour. For example, they have made fake commercials for non-existent products such as the "Poop Tube" (a device that lets people release liquefied faecal matter into a urinal while standing up), the "fla'Hat" (a hat that is connected to the wearer's anus which expands when storing flatulence), and "D-Pants" (an undergarment invented by "Diah Riha-Jones" that captures "uncontrollable diarrhea").[14][15][16]

In the series South Park, the Canadian comedy duo Terrance and Phillip are noted for toilet humor and often make comedic use of their flatulence e.g. in the song ‘Unclefucker’.

English actor Adrian Edmondson, who appeared in many shows utilising toilet humour, is quoted as saying, "Toilet humour is like jazz: everybody has an idea what it is, and most people don't like it. But the people who do like it are fervent about it and like it until they die."[citation needed]

Books

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In 1929 comedian Charles "Chic" Sale published a small book, The Specialist,[17] which was a large "underground" success. Its entire premise centered on sales of outhouses, touting the advantages of one kind or another, and labeling them in "technical" terms such as "one-holers", "two-holers", etc. Over a million copies were sold. In 1931 his monologue "I'm a Specialist"[18] was made into a hit record (Victor 22859) by recording artist Frank Crumit (music by Nels Bitterman). As memorialized in the "Outhouse Wall of Fame", the term "Chic Sale" became a rural slang synonym for privies, an appropriation of Mr. Sale's name that he personally considered unfortunate.[19]

More recently, one of the most popular books about defecation, diarrhea and accidents in toilets is by straight-talking physician Jane Wilson-Howarth, a guide that began as Shitting Pretty[20] and then was relaunched as How to Shit around the World.[21][22]

The children's book series Captain Underpants makes copious use of toilet humor. "Doctor Diaper", "The Bionic Booger Boy", and "Professor Pippy Pee-Pee Poopypants" are among the villains in the series.

Video games

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A game notorious for its juvenile humour, Conker's Bad Fur Day contains a plentiful amount of scatological jokes. One of the landmark areas is a "Poo Mountain" and some of its missions involve getting cows to drink a laxative prune juice to produce "pooballs", or fighting The Great Mighty Poo, a giant opera-singing pile of feces as a boss. In a later mission, the game's protagonist also has urination as an attack, after drinking a lot of beer and getting drunk.

Toilet humour is also versatile in the Metal Gear franchise. Solid Snake can protect himself from wolf attacks by having one urinate on him. In Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, Solid Snake can spot soldiers relieving themselves several times and also stand under them. In Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance, Raiden is instructed in order to use a terminal, he first needs to "take a DOOMP", which is an abbreviation for "digital-optical output mounted proxy".

A trait of Wario from the eponymous spin-off franchise is a powerful flatulence attack extensively used in his Super Smash Bros. appearance.

Toys

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The Moose Toys franchise Little Live "Gotta Go" Pets is a toy line of interactive plush animals that "poop" when fed colourful sand. The toys make graphic noises of passing gas, panic and say the words "uh-oh! Gotta go!" and have scatological names including "turdle" (turtle). The internet critic Doug Walker called the toys "disgusting" and found them immature and inappropriate. Parenting blogs praised the toy line for its crude humour approach to potty training.[23][24][25]

Mattel fashion doll Barbie has a plastic golden retriever, named Tanner, which has been an available toy in different variations since the 1990s. Tanner the dog eats brown bean-like beads and then poops them out when its tail is pressed. Barbie can then pick up the plastic poop with a scooper that comes with the playsets.[26]

Infant dolls, typically targeted towards little girls, have existed for decades that urinate and defecate (into diapers or potties) as a play feature. Variants include "Magic Potty Baby" (a 1990s Tyco brand doll)[27][28] and "Baby Alive" (and Amazon knock-off counterfeit variants) that pee, poop and release glitter from their rear ends.[29][30][31] The trend of scatological dolls for girls was mocked on the 1970s British comedy TV series Are You Being Served? in the episode "A Change Is as Good as a Rest"; salesman Mr. Lucas fills Ms. Brahms's peeing dollies with fizzy carbonated lemonade; another gag features character Mrs. Slocombe displaying two doll variants to a customer: the one manufactured in Britain is blonde-haired and says "I want to go to the potty" when a string on its back is pulled, while a similar doll with sandy hair manufactured in India says "my name is Yasmin, and I have just been to the potty" when its string is pulled.[32]

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ In Latin, the title reads "Hic oscula pedibus papae figuntur".
  2. ^ "Nicht Bapst: nicht schreck uns mit deim ban, Und sey nicht so zorniger man. Wir thun sonst ein gegen wehre, Und zeigen dirs Bel vedere"

References

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  1. ^ Oberman, Heiko Augustinus (1 January 1994). The Impact of the Reformation: Essays. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing. ISBN 9780802807328 – via Google Books.
  2. ^ Luther's Last Battles: Politics And Polemics 1531-46 By Mark U. Edwards, Jr. Fortress Press, 2004. ISBN 978-0-8006-3735-4
  3. ^ Mark U. Edwards, Jr., Luther's Last Battles: Politics And Polemics 1531–46 (2004), p. 199
  4. ^ Praeger, Dave (2007). Poop Culture: How America Is Shaped by Its Grossest National Product. United States: Feral House. ISBN 978-1-932595-21-5.
  5. ^ Helmut Fischer Kinderreime im Ruhrgebiet: Reime, Lieder, Spiellieder 1991 Page 121 "Scheiße auf der Kirchturmspitze Fällt demll Pastor auf die Mütze. 2. Scheiße in der Lampenschale Gibt gedämpftes Licht im Saale. 951 . Scheiße auf dem Autodach Liegt bei Hundertachtzig flach. 952
  6. ^ Profil 1994 – Volume 25 – Page 58 "Immer, wenn es besonders ausgelasse zuging, stimmten meine Mitschüler in einem katholisch
  7. ^ Volksliederarchiv: Scheiße
  8. ^ "Enrique y Ana: Una meditación retrospectiva".
  9. ^ "The worst Eminem lyrics of the past 10 years". 17 January 2020.
  10. ^ "Eminem: Revival Album Review". Pitchfork.
  11. ^ "Eminem claims he's a G.O.A.T., and offers evidence". Los Angeles Times. 2 March 2011.
  12. ^ a b Kelner, Martin (23 Jul 2008). "The ace of trumps". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 17 March 2022. Retrieved 18 March 2022.
  13. ^ Bennett, Will (1 January 1994). "Mr Methane's tunes put the wind up insurers". The Independent. Archived from the original on 18 March 2022. Retrieved 18 March 2022.
  14. ^ "– YouTube". YouTube.
  15. ^ "Watch Full Episodes of Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!".
  16. ^ "D-Pants | Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! | Adult Swim". YouTube. February 2012.
  17. ^ Sale, Charles (1994). The Specialist. Souvenir Press. ISBN 978-0-285-63226-4.
  18. ^ Sale, Charles (Chic); Kermode, William (illustrator) (1994) [1929]. The Specialist (print). London: Souvenir Press. ISBN 978-0-285-63226-4. Retrieved 13 July 2013.
  19. ^ "The Specialist". Outhouse Wall of Fame. Outhouse Museum. Archived from the original on May 2, 2003.
  20. ^ Wilson-Howarth, Jane (2000). Shitting Pretty: how to stay clean and healthy while traveling. Travelers Tales, Calif. p. 149. ISBN 978-1885211477.
  21. ^ Wilson-Howarth, Jane (2006). How to Shit Around the World: the art of staying clean and healthy while traveling. Travelers Tales, Calif. p. 165. ISBN 978-1-932361-32-2.
  22. ^ Wilson-Howarth, Jane (2020). How to Shit Around the World: the art of staying clean and healthy while traveling (2 ed.). Travelers Tales, Calif. p. 178. ISBN 978-1609521929.
  23. ^ Walker, Doug (24 November 2021). "Commercials Resurrection – Nostalgia Critic". www.youtube.com. Channel Awesome.
  24. ^ Mae, Kristen (31 January 2021). "I Wish I Had A Reason To Buy This Pooping Flamingo". www.scarymommy.com. Scary Mommy. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
  25. ^ Brown, Helen. "Must-have Top Christmas Toys 2021 from the biggest sellers". www.madeformums.com. Made For Mums. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
  26. ^ Thierer, Adam (15 August 2007). "Oh Sh*t: Barbie's Pooping Dog is a Killer!". techliberation.com/. The Technology Liberation Front. Retrieved 12 July 2022.
  27. ^ "Magic Potty Baby Commercial (1991)". www.youtube.com. YouTube. 10 February 2007. Retrieved 12 July 2022.
  28. ^ Rossen, Jake (19 November 2015). "Reliving the Horror of Magic Potty Baby". www.mentalfloss.com. Mental Floss. Retrieved 12 July 2022.
  29. ^ "BABY born Surprise Magic Potty Surprise Green Eyes – Doll Pees Glitter & Poops Surprise Charms (917776)". amazon.com. Amazon. Retrieved 12 July 2022.
  30. ^ "Baby Alive Sunshine Snacks Doll, Eats and "Poops," Waterplay Baby Doll". www.toysrus.ca. Toys R' Us Canada. Retrieved 12 July 2022.
  31. ^ "Baby Alive Sunshine Snacks Doll, Eats and "Poops," Waterplay Baby Doll, Ice Pop Mold, Toy for Kids 3 and Up, Black Hair". shop.hasbro.com. Hasbro. Retrieved 12 July 2022.
  32. ^ "A Change Is as Good as a Rest". www.imdb.com. IMDb. Retrieved 12 July 2022.
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