Comedy CP English 2

WHAT IS IT? WHERE DID IT COME FROM? Comedy: n. the comic element of drama. Comes from the Greek word, komoidia: komos + aoidos “Revel” + “Singing” After a tragedy, men would gather, celebrate, and march down streets singing to music and shouting vile jests. The group was called a comus and the song a comoedia or comedy. Since critics were able to get away with comedic criticism. Satire became important in vocalizing the issues of a people, safely.

Differences between a comedy and a tragedy, according to john morreall Social Differences Tragedy Comedy Heroism: Characters tend to be "superhuman, semidivine, larger-than-life" beings. Antiheroism: Characters tend to be normal, down-to-earth individuals.  Comedies tend to parody authority. Militarism: Tragedies often arise in warrior cultures.  And its values are those of the good soldier--duty, honor, commitment. Pacifism: Comedies tend to call into question warrior values: Better to lose your dignity and save your life. Vengeance: Offending a tragic hero often results in a cycle of vengeance. Forgiveness: Forgiveness, even friendship among former enemies, happens. Less Sexual Equality: Often male-dominated. More Sexual Equality: While often sexist too, are sometimes less so.  Women play a larger, more active role.

The different genres of comedy STAND UP: One comic stands in front of an audience and tells quick, fast paced humorous stories that are usually connected to current events. SATIRE: Comedy that represents actual events or individuals in a humorous way often meant to point out flaws and to induce change. SITUATIONAL: More commonly known as “Sitcoms.” These routines exaggerate the humor found within the home or workplace. They originally started with radio but became extremely popular with the introduction of the television. SLAPSTICK: A form in which actors use exaggerated physical actions to prompt silly responses. DRAMEDY: A coined word to describe instances of combining humor with serious events. IMPROVISE: More commonly known as “improv.” This style challenges actors to quickly react to suggestions given to them by an independent source.

Commedia dell’ Arte A type of comedy developed in 16th and 17th century Italy, characterized by improvised text based on plot outlines (scenarios). Featured stock characters, some of whom wore distinctive masks. Using sexually challenging language and physical comedy, Commedia pokes fun at elements of society’s respectable values by means of exaggerated styles and insightful character traits.

Pantaloon rich, miserly old man operates on the assumption that everything can be bought and sold but he also loves money for its own sake and will therefore only part with it when there is no other option

Capitano or braggart never indigenous to the town where the scenario is set and is able to seem high status as a result arrogant the whole world is an audience. Stops whenever he sees the actual audience and makes a salutation so that he can be admired

Il dottore usually of high social status gives the other characters a break from physical exertion by his tiresome wordiness

Harlequin usually servant to the Pantaloon, but also to Capitano or Dottore has the intelligence to hatch schemes, although they rarely work out complications of plot often derive from his mistakes aware of audience and makes asides

Comedic Devices Banter playful/witty remarks and harmless teasing Explanation Banter playful/witty remarks and harmless teasing Blenderword combination of words to make new words Blunder actor makes foolish, yet funny, mistakes Black/Dark Humor humor about grave topics, such as death, murder, etc. Caricature exaggeration of a person’s mental, physical, or personality trait in a wisecrack form Freudian Slip a funny statement which seems to pop out of nowhere but actually comes from the person’s subconscious thoughts

Comedic Devices Device Explanation Farce entertainment by means of unlikely, improbable, and extravagant situations Irony what is expected isn’t what occurs (situational) Sarcasm a kind of particularly cutting irony, in which praise is used tauntingly to indicate its opposite meaning Parody the use of imitation to mock or make fun of Repartee speech with witty comebacks and clever replies; similar to banter Wisecrack a witty remark thrown in at the perfect timing

Comedic Devices Device Explanation Foil a character who is used as a contrast to another character; The use of a foil emphasizes the differences between two characters, bringing out the distinctive qualities in each. This contrast may be used for a comedic effect. Inversion the taking on of the gender role of the opposite sex; It is also defined as a reversal of position, order, form, or relationship. It refers to situations or circumstances where the normal hierarchy of power is reversed.

Comedic Devices Hyperbole Explanation Hyperbole a figure of speech that uses exaggeration to express a strong sentiment or create a comic effect; Also called overstatement, hyperbole does not express the literal truth; however, it is often used to capture a sense of intensity or to emphasize the essential nature of something. Under-statement the opposite of exaggeration/ hyperbole and is a form of irony; It is a figure of speech that consists of saying less than what is really meant or saying something with less force than is appropriate.

Comedic Devices Device Explanation Pun a play on the multiple meanings of a word or on two words that may sound alike but have different meanings Wordplay is the witty exploitation of the meanings and ambiguities of words (In other words, it’s when one character takes the meaning of a word in a different direction than was originally intended.)

Device Explanation comedic devices Banter Playful/witty remarks and harmless teasing. Blenderword Combination of words to make new words. Blunder Actor makes foolish, yet funny, mistakes. Black/Dark Humor Humor about grave topics, such as death, murder, etc. Caricature Exaggeration of a person’s mental, physical, or personality trait in a wisecrack form. Freudian Slip A funny statement which seems to pop out of nowhere but actually comes from the person’s subconscious thoughts. Farce Entertainment by means of unlikely, improbable, and extravagant situations. Irony What is expected isn’t what occurs. Parody The use of imitation to mock or make fun of. Pun A line that exploits the different possible meanings of a word or two words that simply sound a like. Repartee Speech with witty comebacks and clever replies. Sitcom Humorous drama based on day-to-day life. Wisecrack Witty remark thrown in at the perfect timing.