Comedy
Comedy
• We call cultural content meant primarily to
generate mirth “comedy”
– All genres include comedic elements
– Some argue that any story where the low-born or
put-upon rise to a higher station and a better end
is a comedy
• Comedy is not content-specific
– May have to do with just about anything
• Any setting, everyday or fantastic situations, most any plot,
all kinds of characters
• However, it is a genre that emphasizes the normal and
mundane
– Audience familiarity
– Combines easily with content-based genres
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Romantic comedy
Horror comedy
Political comedy
Cop comedy
• What is considered funny is not universal
– What is fearful, sad, exciting are much more
widely agreed upon
– What is funny depends heavily upon the viewing
context and audience characteristics as well as
content
• Consequently, comedy does not ‘travel well’
– Action/adventure, Horror, etc. seem to be more
effective in crossing borders
Why do we find things funny?
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Incongruity theory
Superiority theory
Disposition theory (Zillmann)
Subversion of authority/norm-breaking
Catharsis theory (Freud)
Incongruity
• Jokes
– Punchline provides the unexpected twist
• Scenes of dialogue where the two actors
misunderstand what the other is talking about
• Actions taken that lead to different
consequences than the actor/audience
member would expect
• Satire/Irony
– considered the most advanced/cerebral of humor
Superiority
• Silliness/weird behavior
• Stupidity
• Cut-down humor, especially when aimed at
the powerless
• Pain (but not too extreme)
Disposition
• Humor in seeing bad behavior punished, good
behavior rewarded
– May run counter to incongruity
Subversion of authority
• Political humor aimed at the president
• Jokes about the high and mighty
– Late-night monologues
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Celebrity misfortunes, etc.
Kids swinging the bat, hitting dad in the groin
Beavis and Butthead
The Simpsons
30 Rock
Catharsis
• Gross-out humor
• Sick humor
• Dark humor
Factors often are combined
• For example, surprise and ‘bad behavior’ may
be mixed together
Important context
• Certain clues in the narrative make clear that
one is not to take it seriously
• Outrageousness of plot, characterization is meant to
undermine the realism of the portrayal and the
seriousness of the narrative
• Once in a comic frame of mind, misfortunes or
criticisms evoke humor rather than pity
• Unless true pain and suffering are portrayed
Comedy subgenres
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Romantic/Sex
Screwball
Dark (black)
Satire
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Buddy
Mocumentary
Parody
Road
Slacker
Comedy formats
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Sitcom
Dramedy
Sketch comedy
Stand-up comedy
Improvisational comedy
Animated comedy
Situation Comedies
• Mundane settings
– Home or office
• Normal main characters
• Eccentric but not manic peripheral characters
• Comedy from everyday problems
– May center around bad behavior on the main
character’s part
– Usually a continuing goal that generates plots
• Comedy is generated by exaggerated and
unexpected or even foolish behavior intended
to deal with problems/accomplish objectives
– Surprise comes from eccentric actions of sidekick,
etc.
Dramedies
• Mix comedy with important social critique
• More ‘cerebral,’ more demanding of audience
– Can cause confusion as to the appropriate
response
– Northern Exposure
– M*A*S*H*
– Boston Legal
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David Simpson at: http://condor.depaul.edu/dsimpson/tlove/comic-tragic.html