Comedy Ladder Comedy just pokes at problems, rarely confronts them squarely. Drama is like a plate of meat and potatoes, comedy is rather dessert, like a bit of meringue. - Woody Allen

How comedy affects us: Appeals to head, not heart. INCONGRUITY is humorous. Comedy lifts us out of the emotional response to an idea or situation Opportunity to use comedy as a lever for social change

Existential Element Main principle- No man knows who he is, that he cannot see his true mirror image but only what he wants to see. Reversal of roles, exaggerations, and understatements Surprise our mental expectations and make us see things differently.

Comedic Characters Simple- we can readily see his distorted views that have made him a fool in other men’s eyes. Incongruous with the social norms of comedic setting

Comedic Action Repeated actions of fool in multiple situations show distortion Much of the fun of the comedy are the reactions of other characters to the fool’s repetitive stupidity.

Audience Reaction Although we scorn the blindness of the fool, we realize we share, to some extent, his distorted views (stereotypes). This enables “us” to see our own rigidity or reluctance to change, hence, creating social changes

3 Literary Elements that Create Comedy INCONGRUITY- when logic is not in play with characters, settings or situations DERISION – when the reader is placed in a position of superiority over the characters AUTOMATON – when characters are like robots or creatures of habit

Comedy Ladder HIGH LOW FARCE

Low Comedy Lowest form of humor Evokes the loudest, longest laughter Relies on the body and physical mishaps Bathroom humor Slapstick Tripping, falling Any bodily function

Low Comedy Examples Dumb and Dumber Bridesmaids Mr. Bean Pink Panther

Farce Characters are controlled by situations -they seem to have no control Relies on plot devices: Misunderstandings Mistaken identities Coincidences Mistiming

Farce Examples Seinfeld Wrong Doug Date Night

High Comedy Relies on a skillful use of language – verbal wit Two Types: Comedy of Manners Comedy of Ideas

Comedy of Manners Examines and satirizes the attitudes and customs of different members of high society Relies of verbal repartee: clever insults, put-downs, puns, paradoxes Does not hesitate to sacrifice a character’s sensitivity for the cause

Examples Mean Girls Clip Arthur 10 Things I Hate About You

Comedy of Ideas Characters argue about important issues like war, gender, marriage, religion, class and government. Satire focuses on the foolish ideas behind an issue and ridicules the thinking and approach to the debate.

Comedy of Ideas 21 Jump Street Press Secretary The Newsroom

Satire Horatian – Gentle humor – aims to correct by broadly sympathetic laughter – not destructive satire - named for Roman poet, Horace. Juvenalian – Biting, bitter, angry – it points out injustices with contempt and indignation – named after Roman poet, Juvenal

Elements of Satire Hyperbole Incongruity Reversal Parody Sarcasm Juxtaposition Understatement Double Entendre

Satire Horatian: Juvenalian Alpha Dog of the Week Cecilia Jimenez Follow Up Juvenalian Hillary trying to be relatable Election Night

Identify the levels of comedy in each of the following 10 Funniest Movie Scenes