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Comedy: Etymology

The word “comedy” comes from the Ancient Greek word “kmida,” which comes from the words “o kômos,” which means “fun,” and “id,” which means “self.” Dean Rubin claims that the term “comedy” evolved from the root “kmida,” which means “joke” (singing; ode). In Greek, “comic” functions as an adverb. Comedy was a specific genre of ancient Greek and Roman theater that always had a happy ending. According to Aristotle, comedy is the failure to adequately imitate people in accordance with established norms, whereas tragedy is the better imitation of men than the average.

Only in the sub-genre of the ugly, known as the ludicrous, did comedy characters ever fare worse than average. A mask that makes people laugh is an example of something that is ugly and malformed without causing them damage, and hence can be described as ludicrous. As time went on, people began to associate the phrase with any sort of performance that was meant to make them laugh. The current meaning of the term “comedy” emerged throughout the course of the Middle Ages. After Aristotle’s works were translated into Latin in the 12th century, the word “comedy” started to be used in a broader way in medieval literature.

Poetics is the term used to describe these interpretations. In the second half of the 20th century, many serious scholars found it very funny to use this phrase to describe how everyone laughs.

The West’s rich historical legacy

History of the dny, including its roots in the works of Aristotle and Aristophanes, a Greek playwright, began writing comedies around 425 BCE. Of his 40 plays, only 11 have survived. Aristophanes’ works are often satirical and hilarious. The early satyr plays, which inspired Aristophanes, were typically somewhat sexual in nature, and this is where he found the inspiration for his unique kind of comedy. Only author 11’s satyr plays have survived to the present day. As stated in his works, Aristotle places the origin of comedy in poetry at around 335 BCE.

According to Aristotle, happiness is the finest possible condition of being and the purpose of all activities, so it stands to reason that humor benefits society as a whole. Aristotle states that sexual jokes are unnecessary in a comedy. The protagonist of a comedy usually goes on a journey of self-discovery and eventual success. Aristotle distinguishes between three types of comedic writing: farce, romantic comedy, and satire. In contrast, Plato thought that laughter was the most effective method for overcoming one’s ego. He attributed it to an emotion he valued more highly than diligence in school and self-control. Because “typically when one abandons himself to violent laughter, his condition creates a strong reaction,” he thinks state watchdogs shouldn’t laugh. Plato argues that strict control over humor is necessary for arrival at the ideal state vendors select essential cookies of comedy originated other sites.

According to Aristotle’s “Poetics,” humorous writing is one of the top four literary genres. The last three types are tragedies, epic poetry, and lyrical poetry. Aristotle claims that all writing, by definition, is a mimetic representation of life. Humorous writing, the third category, departs the most from strict mimesis.

 history of cinematography

Mimesis is most effective in tragedies, next in lyric poetry, then in epic poetry, and finally in comedies. Aristotle defines comedy by pointing out a structural trait shared by all humorous works. Typically, the protagonists in comedies are portrayed as low or base people with useless objectives, and the plot culminates with the protagonists either achieving their goals or realizing how pointless their goals were to collect information to save settings.

Including Shakespeare and other comedies from the Elizabethan era

The word “comedy” in Elizabethan times meant something completely different than what it means today. Shakespeare’s comedies are easily separated from the rest of his canon because of their more lighthearted tone and style, as well as the traditional happy endings, in which the play’s single protagonists get married to one another. The commedia dell’arte, which originated in 16th-century Italy, is the ancestor of the Punch and Judy show. Punch was modeled after the popular Pulcinella figure from Naples. Mr. Punch, as we know him now, first appeared in 1662 in England.

In the latter part of the 19th century and the first decade of the 20th

During the early 19th century in England, Joseph Grimaldi was a performer in pantomime and became known as the first famous clown. The music hall theater of Britain, which rose to popularity in the 1850s, was also notable for its emphasis on comedic acts, comic style of own powers.

The musical and visual creations of the twentieth century

Surreal comedy, also called “absurdist comedy” or “absurdist humour,” is a type of humor that deliberately ignores causality in favor of absurd results. “Absurdist comedy” and “surreal comedy” are two other names for this genre of humor. Surreal humor is often made up of things like strange juxtapositions, incongruity, non-sequiturs, irrational or absurd settings, and words that don’t make sense. Surreal comedy is funny because it mixes absurdity and illogic. It works because it goes against what the audience expects. Surreal humor can be found in works such as Alice in Wonderland and other works by Lewis Carroll, which date back to the nineteenth century.

After a while, they spotted what looked like land in the distance, and upon arrival, they learned that it was actually an island formed of water and completely surrounded by land. Aside from the fact that there was just one tree on the island that measured 503 feet in height, the fact that it was bordered by disappearing isthmuses and had a strong Gulf Stream that swept across the island made it an exceptionally picturesque location.

Several avant-garde movements at the turn of the 20th century, such as Dadaism, Surrealism, and Futurism, were the first to make art that didn’t make sense or follow rules popular. Some would take seriously the intentions of these groups, which included undermining the solemnity and self-satisfaction of modern art. The inverted urinal, depicted by Marcel Duchamp in 1917 and signed “R. Mutt,” is a well-known piece of his. Being one of the earliest examples of the Fountain, it has gained fame and significance as a result of its light and amusing characters in sentimental comedy.

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