1. Film Genre: Comedy
Entertainment consisting of jokes and sketches, intended to make an audience laugh. It often depicts amusing people or incidents, in which the characters ultimately triumph over adversity or we feel triumphant over them.

2. Superiority Theory Comedy is often about freedom and status.
Laughter can occur when:
The audience feels superior to a character
A character gains dominance over its superior

3. Audience Superiority to a Character

4. Task
Working in pairs, find an example of a modern-day ‘clown’ or ‘jester’ in contemporary TV/cinema
Why is this character considered funny?
How do the narratives and situations in which the character exists support comedy?
What is their relationship with other character?
How has the film maker enhanced the comedy?
Can you find an appropriate clip to share?

5. The Clown https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IkBQ5IX-XQQ&t=55s

6. Power over our Superiors

7. Power Over our Superiors

8. Power Over our Superiors

9. Power Over our Superiors

10. Power Over our Superiors

11. Power Over our Superiors

12. Escalation https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_QQgz74qpo

13. Task
Working in groups of three, create a simple tagline for a comedy situation.
Who are the characters?
Which character has the authority (or what is the authority)?
Conceive a situation in which the authoritative character/system is challenged and brought down the same level authority or lower.
Ensure that the situation is not vulgar or violent.

14. Production Methods for Comedy
Camera shots
Establishing shot introducing characters, location and scenario
Over the shoulder shot to establish direction of dialogue
Multiple wide shots and close ups to establish reactions from all characters
Wide shots to capture comical event
Cut-away shots can be used to capture reactions or events to emphasis comedy.
Hi and low angle shots used to demonstrate authority

15. Production Methods for Comedy
Editing
Quick editing can exaggerate the chaos of a situation
Edit between characters and events to capture the full scenario
Ensure audiences have time to react (understand/absorb/laugh)

16. Production Methods for Comedy
Mockumentary
Allows for a fluid movement that can capture all characters and events
Allows audience to feel part of the scenario
Cut-away shots can be used to capture reactions or events to emphasis comedy.

17. Task
Surreal Slapstick Satirical Alternative Black Comedy Observational Parody Sketch
Produce a written report on your blogs analysing a genre of comedy.
Explain the history of the genre
Use examples to describe the conventions of that genre
Explain how and why the comedy works
Use comparison to further explain
Min 500 words
Deadline Thursday 9th February