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The Progression of Comedy
One of the most loved aspects of the entertainment industry has roots that stretch back thousands of years. Comedy, be it romantic, slapstick or tragic, has evolved with mankind, and can even be viewed as a measuring stick of the progress of humanity. From Roman togas, to drunken toga parties, comedy is the matter which binds civilizations.
Ancient Comedy
The first known comedic production occurred thousands of years ago in Ancient Greece. Even Aristotle, the established scribe of the times, is vague as to the exact whereabouts of comedy’s origination point. Greek comedy seems to have originated in times of festival, with young men wandering the streets in groups acting like buffoons for the enjoyment of all. In fact, the Greek term for this street revelry, comus, is the root word of our modern day comedy.
Old, or dark, comedy is the most ancient of styles. This form of comedy is satirical in nature, and often knows no limits in the amount of damage it can inflict upon the subject of its dark mirth. The audiences of old demanded certain aspect of traditional tragedies, so comedies developed around the familiar use of music, choral groups, and witty and exceptional dialog. The old comedy, renamed satire or parody, is still an effective weapon in use today.
Evolving Comedy
Over time, comedy remained a staple in theaters and street productions around the globe. As humanity advanced, so did the aspects of comedic productions. The original dark comedic plays evolved into newer, more lighthearted forms of comedy that are evidenced in many of the classical works, including Shakespeare.
The main comedic elements in these productions are the overblown romance, the dominating father condoning his son for his own shortcomings, and the solider or traveler returning home with riches of war or travel as well as a seemingly empty head. Historians believe these plays were simply reflections of the times rather than any grand statement of morality or vice.
Comedy Today
Comedy today is a broad category containing the large variety of humorous elements that have ever existed as well as some only recently developed. The breakdown of modern comedic areas is as follows:
- Stand-up comedy involves the performance of an individual onstage telling jokes and entertaining an audience.
- Sketch comedy is comedy performed in short burst. This form of comedy is especially popular on Saturday nights.
- Parody comedy is the modern equivalent to the Old comedy of Ancient Greece It is generally dark and satirical in nature.
- Slapstick comedy involves the use of humorous physical aggression and short pithy jokes. Generally, slapstick is performed in groups or trios.
- Gross-out comedy is the most common form of comedy today. These films attempt to make audiences uncomfortable with vulgar or disgusting humor.
- Romantic comedy focuses humor around the most basic human condition, love.
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