Comedy

In order to properly understand  the different types of comedy that work in different cultural settings, we must first examine the root of its appeal – humour.  This initial research looks at what comedy is, why humans beings laugh in different settings and for different reasons, as well as comedy in natural settings (everyday life), as opposed to intentional settings (planned comedy)

 

What is Laughter?

There is  alot of mystery surrounding the physical reasoning behind laughter, and although much is still understood, we know that it is a reaction that triggers sensations and reactions in many different parts of the human body. When we laugh, we alter our facial expressions and make sounds. During exuberant laughter, the muscles of the arms, legs and trunk are involved. Laughter also requires modification in our pattern of breathing.

 

In its natural occurance, it is interesting to note that laughter most often used to form bonds between human beings, show playful intent, and ease moments of tension – more so than as an uncontrollable reaction to something genuinely funny or humorous.  Human beings become conditioned to laughter, and often laugh at particular moments or intervals simply out of habit.  

 

 

We believe laughter evolved from the panting behavior of our ancient primate ancestors. Today, if we tickle chimps or gorillas, they don’t laugh “ha ha ha” but exhibit a panting sound. That’s the sound of ape laughter. And it’s the root of human laughter.

 

What Makes Us Laugh?

It is important to note two different settings in which human beings experience humour.  

Unintetional  humour is the funny things we encounter on a daily basis, that occur naturally in exchanges with people. 

These include:

 

    * Ambiguity 

    * Contradiction 

    * Misunderstanding

 

 

The second type is intentional humour.  This is scripted, forced etc.  This is evident in the every day comedy for television and represents the types of humour we would explore in writing our character sketches.  

These types of humour include:

 

     * Irony – the way of speaking that shows you are joking or that you mean the opposite of what you say

    * Slapstick – comedy based on simple jokes, eg people falling over or hitting each other

    * Black humour – humour dealing with the unpleasant or dark side of life (eg death, people’s problems)

    * Satire – the use of humour to attack a person, an idea or behaviour that you think is bad or foolish

    * Farce – usually a funny play for the theatre full of ridiculous situations 

-Ashleigh Gazal