comedy

What was the Komos? (4)

• Key part of Dionysus' festivals

• Revels; drinking

dancing

• Thought by many as the basis for old comedy

• Example of how people could be relieved through wine; Tiresias (Bacchae) "End to the pain of suffering humans"

History of Old Comedy? (4)

• First one was recorded at City Dionysia in 486BC

• Mainly focused on making fun of public life/figures; offers insights into political issues of day

• First of Aristophanes' was recorded in 427BC but only 11/40 survived; mostly written in Peloponnesian War (Athens V Sparta)

• Changed in 320s to be less political; New Comedy

Actors and Chorus in Comedies? (3)

• Allowed a fourth leading actor onstage

• Chorus had 24 members vs the 12/15 seen as tragedies

• Could break the dramatic illusion by acknowledging presence of spectators/even addressing directly

Costumes & Masks? (6)

• Made actors look ridiculous + gross

• Some criticised public figures; e.g. Cleon

Socrates

• Some colourful costumes; e.g. Birds (414BC) w 24 different bird types as chorus

• Thickly padded costumes so thicker/wider allowing actors to roll around as physical humour

• Wore phalluses; attached by string to tunic = erection; e.g. in Wasps

Philocleon offers it to music-girl as rope for her to pull herself onstage

• Wore thick

short tunic + a cloak just below waist w tights

Humour + Comic techniques? (4)

• All have conflict as central feature w happy endings (i.e. marriage

• Could make up new words to make fun of intellectuals (e.g. in Clouds)

• Frequently insult public figures + stereotypes w crude/obscene language

Tragedy in Comedy? (3)

• Mocks grandeur of tragedies by Euripides etc

• Often based around Athenian life in tragedies

which comes would mock + make fun of politics + its figures

• Also mocks tragic God portrayal; mocks them as cowardly + ridiculous

not strong/powerful e.g. in Frogs

Definition; Surreal Humour

Involves bizarre juxtapositions

Definition; Physical Humour

Manipulation of body for humourous effect including slapstick

Definition; Observational/Stereotypical Humour

Based on everyday aspects of life - main humour is stand-up. Makes a view on an everyday phenomenon that's rarely noticed/discussed

Definition; Situational Humour

Elements of farce

Definition; Satire/Mockery/Topical Humour

Irony

Definition; Blue/Sexual humour

Topics considered to be poor taste/overly vulgar

Definition; Scatalogical/Bodily Humour

Defecation

Definition Puns/Wordplay

Lowest form of humour