Dark Humour and Death: A Very Melbourne Moment
The other day, scrolling through social media, I stumbled upon a photo that perfectly encapsulates our city’s uniquely dark sense of humour. Someone had spotted a hearse, painted completely in matte black, parked outside what appeared to be a goth-themed café. The comments section exploded with typically Melbourne wit, from Monty Python references to quips about “ride or die” relationships.
Living in a city that embraces both the gothic and the absurd, this kind of sight barely raises an eyebrow anymore. We’re the same people who turned our ‘Yellow Peril’ sculpture controversy into decades of jokes and transformed a simple public art installation of upside-down purple rain poles into a beloved landmark. Dark humour is practically woven into our cultural DNA.
The whole scene reminded me of a conversation I had with my wife at Dead Man Espresso in South Melbourne last weekend. We were discussing how Melbourne seems to have this fascinating duality - a thriving café culture alongside a prominent gothic subculture. It’s like we can’t decide whether we want to be known for our flat whites or our fondness for Victorian-era aesthetics.
Speaking of dark aesthetics, there’s something quite telling about how we handle serious subjects with humour. The comments about Jim’s Funerals (a play on our ubiquitous Jim’s franchises) and references to Salem’s Lot with an Aussie twist show how we use comedy to process everything from death to corporate culture. It’s not disrespect - it’s our way of making sense of the world.
The reality is that beneath our city’s polished, coffee-loving exterior beats a heart that’s delightfully weird and wonderfully dark. From the Nicholas Building’s artist havens to the horror film festivals at the Astor Theatre, we embrace the shadows as much as the light.
The thread also sparked thoughts about how we deal with serious issues in our community. Between jokes about hearses and gothic aesthetics, there were subtle references to our justice system and social issues. It’s fascinating how we use humour to address these deeper concerns - a very Melbourne way of combining social commentary with a laugh.
Maybe that’s what makes our city special. We can appreciate a good flat white while making death jokes, discuss serious social issues between laughs, and somehow make it all work together. Our dark humour isn’t about being disrespectful - it’s about finding light in the darkness, community in the oddity, and turning even the most somber moments into opportunities for connection.
The next time you spot something decidedly odd in our fair city - whether it’s a gothic hearse or another uniquely Melbourne sight - remember that it’s all part of what makes this place home. Just maybe check if that parked hearse is empty first… right?