Tragedy vs. Comedy

Tragedy vs. Comedy Inevitable Universal theme and appeal Pro. Fails to achieve goals Pro. Alienated from society Pro. Average or better Pro. Falls from place, status Predictably unpredictable Often time and place oriented Intellectual, mental Pro. Achieves goals Pro. Often becomes leader, villain can be accepted Pro. Less than average Pro. Achieves in spite of shortcomings

7 Causes of Laughter

Exaggeration Usually in the form of overstatement Can be understatement Can be a physical characteristic

Incongruity Anything that seems out of place, or out of character Can be an unnatural sound, action, or a twist that changes the logical pattern of a play

Anticipation Looking forward to a laugh Examples: banana peel, mistaken identity May use a plant May use Incompletion

Recognition Discovering hidden meanings Can occur when we realize what is going to happen just before it does The “take”

Ambiguity Double meaning

Protection Cruel, violent, and abusive actions and events can cause laughter because the audience knows that they are not really happening and that the actors are in no real danger

Relief When built up pressure is released, particularly when allowed to be released as a laugh.

“Better Off Dead” As you view the film, find and list at least one example for each of the Seven Causes of Laughter