COMEDY.

 

•  COMEDY.

A comedy is a play (or other literary composition) created primarily to entertain its audience by appealing to their sense of superiority over the people presented. The aim of comedy is to bring laughter and humour to plays and the theatre. Comedy amuses and entertains audiences while dealing with social and personal issues of corruption. Comedy, for example, employs tactics such as satire and satire to mock typical human failings. Comedies frequently expose cultural and institutional difficulties in a way that makes the subject less uncomfortable to discuss.

The term "comedy" comes from the Classical Greek komoidia, which is a the mixture of kômos (revel) and oide (song; ode).The adjective "comic" (Greek kmikós), which properly meaning "relating to comedy," is now largely limited to the sense of "laugh-provoking." The word came into modern usage through the Latin comoedia and Italian commedia, and it has evolved through numerous shades of meaning over time.

The Greeks and Romans reserved the term "comedy" for descriptions of theatrical plays with cheerful endings. Aristotle defined comedy as a worse imitation of men than the average (whereas tragedy was a greater imitation of men than the average). Aristophanes, a comedy drama and satirical author of the Ancient Greek Theatre, authored 40 comedies.

Plato, on the other hand, taught that comedy destroys the self. He felt that it causes an emotional response that overrides logical self-control and learning. In The Republic, he states that the state's protectors should avoid laughing. Plato believes that in order to create the ideal state, comedy should be seriously controlled.

As time passed, the term evolved to be connected with any type of performance intended to make people laugh. During the Middle Ages, the term "comedy" evolved to mean satire, and then humour in general.

Comedy in English drama emerged gradually as a result of the secularisation of drama and the introduction of vernacular in order to depict certain aspects of contemporary culture. Throughout the mediaeval periods, humorous aspects on stage were shaped and nourished in forms such as miracles, moralities, and interludes. Ralph Roister Doister, often regarded as the first English comedy, was performed in 1553-54.

According to George Meredith, "one excellent test of a country's civilization... I take to be the flourishing of the Comic idea and Comedy, and the test of true Comedy is that it shall awaken thoughtful laughter." Laughter is thought to be a cure for illness. According to studies, those who laugh more frequently are less likely to become ill.

High comedy is defined as "intellectual laughter," which is frequently achieved through wit and humour battles. High humour tends to be verbal while low humour is focused on physicality. High humour is not as easily accessible due to it requiring a higher level of intelligence and wit.

The play centers around how the Upper Class views and marriage in general. Love interests are shallow, sentimental and at times farcical in an intellectual depiction.

Low Comedy, which tends to focus on giving the audience a bellyful of laughs at the expense of other characters, animals, inanimate objects and even the audience itself. Low comedy is defined as "belly laughs." Low comedy's major devices are jokes, puns, slapstick humour, and noisy, clownish physical action. low humour is used heavily in children’s comedies.

Þ   CHARACTERISTICS OF COMEDY.

 One of the hallmarks of comedy is that it is lighthearted and has a pleasant or happy viewpoint. They frequently deal with challenges in a lighthearted manner and conclude with everything resolved. Comedy is typically intended to make audiences laugh, but it can also be used to convey a message or teach a lesson.

1.    They frequently use humour derived from everyday circumstances. This allows audiences to laugh at the silliness of the scenario while offering a sense of recognition. In many cases, the humour is built on the gap between what is expected and what actually occurs. This can produce a sense of suspense and surprise, which are crucial parts of humour.

2.     They usually have a pleasing ending. This is often regarded as a way to balance out the comic elements with a happy ending. It can also be used to provide the viewer a sense of closure after they have invested time in the characters and tale. While not all comedies have a happy ending, it is still quite prevalent.

3.     The stories are frequently plain and simple. This is because comedies are intended to be fun and simple to watch. The simpler the plot, the easier it is for the viewer to follow what is going on. Furthermore, the simpler the premise, the more likely the audience would find the story amusing.

4.     They're well-known for their brilliant writing, which frequently includes humorous and sarcastic remarks. This form of humour can be enjoyed by both the show's characters and the viewers at home. While comedies are not for everyone, they may be a great way to unwind and laugh at the world around us.

5.     They usually move at a quick speed, which keeps audiences interested. This could be related to the fast-paced nature of the jokes or the physical humour that is frequently used. Whatever the cause, comedies are clearly intended to keep audiences engaged from beginning to end.