Warm-up: Think of a time or a scene in a movie when you
laughed so hard you cried, peed, or just could barely breathe.
1)
2)
In a few brief sentences, describe what it was that made
you laugh so hard.
What did you find so funny about the situation that
made you laugh so hard? (Did something happen that
was not at all what you expected? Did
somebody/something make a mistake that was
hilarious? Did somebody make a play on words that
was unintentional or comical? Was something so
disgusting, inappropriate and outrageous that you
couldn’t help but laugh, etc.)
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Reminder: All homework and class work
questions are always due the day after the
movie is finished being viewed.
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Take notes and title them “The
Elements of Comedy”
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Don’t forget to keep all notes in a safe place, with
the date and title written on them (they’ll be
collected at the end of the semester).
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Comedy Films are "make 'em laugh" films designed to
elicit laughter from the audience. Comedies are lighthearted dramas, crafted to amuse, entertain, and provoke
enjoyment. The comedy genre humorously exaggerates
the situation, the language, action, and characters.
Comedies observe the deficiencies, foibles, and
frustrations of life, providing merriment and a
momentary escape from day-to-day life.
They usually have happy endings,
although the humor may have a serious
or pessimistic side.
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There are various TYPES of humor (i.e. reasons why we
laugh). In the next 3 slides, some of these types are
listed…
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Laugh-at-life humor: Laughter at the problems that some
encounter in life. Those who appreciate this humor find the
absurd in a real life situation —then laugh.
Slapstick comedy: Slapstick comedy relies on physical
humor, pranks and absurd situations for laughs. This type of
humor involves someone running into a pole, falling into a
pool or a Whoopee cushion on a chair.
Sarcasm: Humor that is dark, biting and sharp. It includes
bitter, mocking comments on the stupidity, absurdity, or
ridiculousness of life.
The Three Stooges
slapstick comedy
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Self-deprecating humor: Humor in which one makes fun of
themselves. Those who like this humor like to play the clown
and feel some kinship with famously self-deprecating
comedians (i.e. Chris Farley).
Dry/Deadpan humor: Hysterically funny statements or
situations in which the joker (or person experiencing the
situation) doesn’t crack a smile or raise an eyebrow
Highbrow/ Witty humor: Clever jokes full of wit. It includes
brilliant one-liners that are made much funnier because it is
true or relevant, but no one else thought of it first.
Steve Carell play the part of a
boss who loves to make jokes
in the style of Deadpan Humor
in The Office
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“Bathroom” humor (“lowbrow” humor): Fart jokes, sexual
jokes, gross/gory occurrences, or situations that make one
squirm are found hysterical.
Cultural references: Those appreciate this humor like to have
a movie quote for every situation in life, it seems. Even when
others haven’t even heard of the film/book/song/speech, etc.
that one is quoting from.
Jokes at others’ expense: Humor found in making fun of
others. It includes ridicule, teasing, and sarcasm.
Famous example of
bathroom humor in
There’s Something About
Mary
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Sub-genres of Comedies:
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Comedy hybrids commonly exist between comedies other
major genres
 Ex.: musical-comedy, horror-comedy, comedy-thriller.
Comedies have also been classified in various subgenres,
such as romantic comedy, crime/caper comedy, sports
comedy, teen or coming-of-age comedy, social-class
comedy, military comedy, fish-out-of-water comedy, and
gross-out comedy.
Different TYPES or forms of comedy films include:
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Slapstick= universal comedy with aggressive, physical, and
visual action, including harmless or painless cruelty and
violence, horseplay, and vulgar sight gags (e.g., a pie in the
face, a fall in the ocean, a loss of pants, runaway crashing cars,
people chases, etc). Found in the early silent films which
didn't need sound to be effective. Activities go beyond the
bounds of common sense.
Type of humor: Slapstick humor
Examples: The Three Stooges;
Ace Ventura, Pet Detective,
The Pink Panther, Don’t Mess with the Zohan, Home Alone,
Cartoons (i.e.: “The Roadrunner and Wile E. Coyote”)
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qxaaJzlnF0
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Deadpan = while absurd and hilarious situations occur
around a character, the character does not crack a smile or
change facial expression. We then laugh at the irony– the
humor contrasted with the lack of humor on the behalf of the
character.
Examples: Steve Carrel in The Office, Stephen Colbert in The
Daily Show, Leslie Neilson in Airplane! and Naked Gun
movies, Buster Keaton films,
Type of humor:
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Dry/Deadpan humor
YouTube example:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&feature=endscreen&v=JzZYZj0i3O
g
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Verbal comedy: Movies in which the clever dialogue and/or
witty jokes create the majority of the humor.
Type of humor:
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High brow humor
Cultural relevance humor
Laugh-at-life humor
Self- depricating humor
Bonding in-the-moment humor
Examples: Woody Allen films (Annie Hall); When Harry Met
Sally
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ndhat6K7bjo&feature=re
lated
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Screwball: a sub-genre of romantic comedy films, (predominant in
mid-1930s-40s). The word 'screwball' suggests lunacy,
ridiculousness, and erratic behavior. Often light-hearted,
sophisticated, romantic stories, focusing on a battle of the sexes in
which males/females try to outwit each other. They include visual
gags, wacky characters, identity reversals (or cross-dressing), a fastpaced unlikely plot, wise dialogue & one-liners with sexual
tensions.
Types of humor:
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Slapstick
Laugh-at-life humor
Highbrow/witty humor
Jokes at others expense
Self- deprecating humor
Examples: Some Like It Hot, It Happened
One Night, How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days, Married with Children
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCqyRmLPI7U
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Spoof / Satire, Lampoon and Farce: the majority of the film is
spent making fun of other movies. This is usually achieved
through elements such as mockery, stereotyping and sarcasm
of the characters, film techniques, themes, plotlines, etc. of
more serious films.
Example: Robinhood: Men in Tights, Scary Movie, National
Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, Walk Hard: A Dewey Cox
Story
Types of humor:
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Sarcasm
Bathroom humor
Cultural Reference humor
Jokes at others expense
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZtVISh8K1Ng
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Dark Comedy (a.k.a.: black humor or black comedy): a subgenre of comedy and satire in which topics and events that
are usually regarded as taboo (i.e.: death, rape, murder,
affairs, human annihilation or domestic violence) are treated
in a satirical or humorous manner.
Type of humor:
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Sarcasm
Self-Deprecating Humor
Highbrow Humor
Examples: Dr. Strangelove, The Big Lebowski, Harold and
Maude, American Psycho, I Heart Huckabees, One Flew Over
the Cuckoo’s Nest, Sunset Boulevard, The Royal Tenenbaums
Example: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jqqSPJKTfY
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Gross-Out Comedy elements such as toilet humor are
routinely used. In many cases, gross-out comedies achieve
great success at the box office.
Type of humor:
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Bathroom Humor
Lowbrow Humor
Examples: There’s Something About
Mary, American Pie, and Dumb and
Dumber.
Example:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SIZU_NZRfjA
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Comedy of Manners – This type of comedy film pokes fun at
a particular type of social class (usually the upper class).
Strong and snappy dialogue is often emphasized over the
actual details of the plot.
Type of humor:
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Laugh at others humor
Examples include: Much Ado About
Nothing, Emma , Clueless and Mean Girls
Example:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sFR9TNsByLk
One important comedy device:
 Pregnant Pause: A technique in which something comical
may have been said or done, but a pause is written into the
script before the actors react.
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This pause makes the comical statement/action more comical.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4k5NwDcucc