Humor and comedy Comedy Comedy has taken different

Humor and comedy

Comedy • Comedy has taken different definitions through the ages – Aristotle defined comedy as one of two main forms of drama—comedy and tragedy • Most contemporary views see comedy as a form of humorous text

Why are we amused? • Relief theory – Reducing physiological tension caused by the selfcensoring of the baser instincts (Freud) • Sexual humor, bad behavior • Gross-out humor • Superiority theory – People feel superior or gain a victory over the victims • Cut-down humor, satire • Incongruity theory – Violation of an expected pattern “provokes humor in the mind of the receiver” – (Buijzen & Valkenburg) • Puns, irony, surprise

High comedy • Some scholars retain a distinction between high and low comedy – High comedy provides a critique, often quite stinging, of human foibles and customs, social structure and power, etc. • The Importance of Being Earnest – Satire and irony are common forms – Dark comedy • Humor relating to subjects normally treated as very serious or somber

Low comedy • Low comedy does not imply any social critique and is based on a wide range of topics – Romantic comedy • Sexual innuendo – Sitcoms • Stupidity/Naiveté • Cut-downs (physical appearance, power differential) – Slapstick • Physical comedy • The great majority of comedy in US mass media would be considered low comedy

What makes a TV show or film funny? • Some scholars argue that no text is inherently funny. It has to be perceived as funny by the audience member. • Unlike horror, action or tragedy, reaction to comedy/humor varies widely among audiences and audience members

• The same content may be hilarious or disgusting depending upon the characteristics and personality of the audience member, the circumstances of exposure or the cultural milieu – – Men like more aggressive/meaner humor The older you get, the more sophisticated your tastes for humor “You had to be there” Violent or sexual humor; dark humor • Religious groups may not see the joke – After tragedies, certain events, certain stories, narratives and comedies are cancelled because they are considered inappropriate • Some forms of comedy would not be seen as funny in the wake of 9/11

Types of humor • Buijzen & Valkenburg’s (2004) Seven Categories – Slapstick – Surprise – Irony – Clownish humor – Satire – Misunderstanding – Parody

Clownish behavior

Satire

Misunderstanding • Abbott and Costello “Who’s on First? ”

Parody

Slapstick • Physical humor – Delight in the misfortunes of others • Unless it appears that real serious damage has been done – However, note dark (black) comedy – Physical incongruities

Tim Conway

Surprise • Nearly all humor can be said to have some element of surprise • Expectations are not met, interpreted by audience members as ‘funny’ • Various forms of incongruity – Puns – Unexpected twists of fate – Strange or fantastic situations • Aliens on Earth

Irony • Dependent entirely upon symbolic incongruity, etc. – More demanding of the audience member – High comedy/adult comedy

Adam’s Rib

Romantic • Usually two attractive protagonists face a number of challenges in their quest (usually true love) and are able to overcome those challenges to reach a happy ending – It is the continued development of new obstacles and the actions of the protagonists or of fate to overcome those obstacles that provides the humor • Class differences • Bad luck

Philadelphia Story/When Harry Met Sally

Satire • The difference between a situation and the ideal or between what is claimed to be true and what is actually true provide the comic tension – Protagonists may either be those that challenge the hypocrisy or are hypocrites themselves • May not be aware of the incongruity between values and behavior, etc. • May be critical of individuals or of society as a whole • May attack deviants or may attack the system (neither necessarily conservative nor progressive)

• Humor can be nasty stuff – It often is based upon public humiliation – The more satirical the humor, the more negative the reaction, at least among some • May be more effective in getting your social critique across, though

Dr. Strangelove/Some Like it Hot

Dark side of humor • Use of humor to assert dominance, superiority – The bully cuts the little kid down and everyone laughs – We snicker as someone makes a fool of himself • Norm-breaking behavior seen as inherently funny – Someone engages in ‘inappropriate’ behavior • Sarah Silverman • Delight in the misfortune of others

Factors often are combined • For example, surprise and ‘bad behavior’ may be mixed together

Note • Humor does not ‘travel well’ compared to other types of content – Action/adventure, etc. are more likely to be successful in foreign markets • The more sophisticated the humor, the larger the portion of the audience that won’t ‘get it’ – This often leads to disappointment or upset