YIKES
A Thriller. A single reaction for the precise instant when something has gone from normal to concerning.
What is YIKES?
YIKES is an informal reaction to something uncomfortable, alarming, awkward or unexpectedly intense. It compresses a larger response into one recognizable expression.
The concept
YIKES treats a familiar expression as a complete dramatic device. The Archive is interested in the gap between a word's tiny size and the enormous amount of context it can carry.
Why call it A Thriller?
The genre label creates the joke: a reaction associated with the moment something becomes concerning is presented as if it were the title of a serious thriller.
Frequently asked
What does YIKES mean?
It commonly signals discomfort, alarm, awkwardness or surprise.
Is YIKES part of the Archive?
Yes. It is one of the named works in The Absurd Humor Archive.
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