Comedic device
Encyclopedia
A comedic device is used in comedy
to write humor in a common structure. They can become so common that they are difficult for writers to use without being perceived as cheesy
.
can be understood in either of two ways. The first, literal meaning is an innocent one, while the second meaning is often ironic
or risqué and requires the hearer to have some additional knowledge.
, and the films of Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen
.
can easily fall off with the wrong facial expression. As a comedic device, an upper-class gentleman drops his monocle when he makes a shocked expression. The monocle falls into the gentleman's drink, smashes into pieces on the floor, etc.
s or phrase
s for humorous effect, whether humorous or serious. A pun can rely on the assumed equivalency of multiple similar words (homonym
y), of different shades of meaning of one word (polysemy
), or of a literal meaning with a metaphor
. Bad puns are often considered to be cheesy
. They should be punny. Haha.
the surreal life.
, Charlie Chaplin
, Laurel and Hardy
, the Keystone Kops
, the Three Stooges. Slapstick is also common in animated cartoon
s such as Tom and Jerry
and Looney Tunes
.
Comedy
Comedy , as a popular meaning, is any humorous discourse or work generally intended to amuse by creating laughter, especially in television, film, and stand-up comedy. This must be carefully distinguished from its academic definition, namely the comic theatre, whose Western origins are found in...
to write humor in a common structure. They can become so common that they are difficult for writers to use without being perceived as cheesy
Camp (style)
Camp is an aesthetic sensibility that regards something as appealing because of its taste and ironic value. The concept is closely related to kitsch, and things with camp appeal may also be described as being "cheesy"...
.
Double entendre
A double entendre is a spoken phrasePhrase
In everyday speech, a phrase may refer to any group of words. In linguistics, a phrase is a group of words which form a constituent and so function as a single unit in the syntax of a sentence. A phrase is lower on the grammatical hierarchy than a clause....
can be understood in either of two ways. The first, literal meaning is an innocent one, while the second meaning is often ironic
Irony
Irony is a rhetorical device, literary technique, or situation in which there is a sharp incongruity or discordance that goes beyond the simple and evident intention of words or actions...
or risqué and requires the hearer to have some additional knowledge.
Hyperbole
A hyperbole is a figure of speech in which statements are exaggerated or extravagant. It may be used due to strong feelings or is used to create a strong impression and is not meant to be taken literally.Mistaken identity
The mistaken identity of twins is a centuries old comedic device used by Shakespeare in several of his works. The mistake can be either an intended act of deception or an accident. Modern examples include The Parent Trap, The Truth About Cats and Dogs', Sister, SisterSister, Sister (TV series)
Sister, Sister is an American television sitcom about identical twin girls Tia Landry and Tamera Campbell , who were separated and adopted at birth, when one day they come face-to-face after 14 years apart....
, and the films of Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen
Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen
Mary-Kate Olsen and Ashley Fuller Olsen are American actresses and entrepreneurs.Both have appeared in television and films since infancy. Since then, they have continued their celebrity through numerous television programs, films, interviews, as well as commercial endorsements...
.
Monocle
It is a popular perception that the monocleMonocle
A monocle is a type of corrective lens used to correct or enhance the vision in only one eye. It consists of a circular lens, generally with a wire ring around the circumference that can be attached to a string. The other end of the string is then connected to the wearer's clothing to avoid losing...
can easily fall off with the wrong facial expression. As a comedic device, an upper-class gentleman drops his monocle when he makes a shocked expression. The monocle falls into the gentleman's drink, smashes into pieces on the floor, etc.
Prank call
A prank call is a form of practical joke committed over the telephone. Prank calls range from annoying hang-ups to false calls to emergency services or bomb threats.Pun
A pun consists of a deliberate confusion of similar wordWord
In language, a word is the smallest free form that may be uttered in isolation with semantic or pragmatic content . This contrasts with a morpheme, which is the smallest unit of meaning but will not necessarily stand on its own...
s or phrase
Phrase
In everyday speech, a phrase may refer to any group of words. In linguistics, a phrase is a group of words which form a constituent and so function as a single unit in the syntax of a sentence. A phrase is lower on the grammatical hierarchy than a clause....
s for humorous effect, whether humorous or serious. A pun can rely on the assumed equivalency of multiple similar words (homonym
Homonym
In linguistics, a homonym is, in the strict sense, one of a group of words that often but not necessarily share the same spelling and the same pronunciation but have different meanings...
y), of different shades of meaning of one word (polysemy
Polysemy
Polysemy is the capacity for a sign or signs to have multiple meanings , i.e., a large semantic field.Charles Fillmore and Beryl Atkins’ definition stipulates three elements: the various senses of a polysemous word have a central origin, the links between these senses form a network, and ...
), or of a literal meaning with a metaphor
Metaphor
A metaphor is a literary figure of speech that uses an image, story or tangible thing to represent a less tangible thing or some intangible quality or idea; e.g., "Her eyes were glistening jewels." Metaphor may also be used for any rhetorical figures of speech that achieve their effects via...
. Bad puns are often considered to be cheesy
Camp (style)
Camp is an aesthetic sensibility that regards something as appealing because of its taste and ironic value. The concept is closely related to kitsch, and things with camp appeal may also be described as being "cheesy"...
. They should be punny. Haha.
Overstatement and Understatement
Overstatement and understatement can be used to emphasize a belief, for example, a low vote in a referendum: "How many people voted for this?" "about naught".Juxtaposition
Juxtaposition is about turning a common misconception about something on its head. For example "My wife.. it's the same every night. 'when are you going to paint the kitchen?' 'when are you going to paint the kitchen?' every bloody night. 'when are you going to paint the kitchen?'. I've told her about 10 times now, and she still hasn't done it". In this case, until the punch-line, it is assumed that the woman is giving the orders to the man. There is also an element of profanity in the joke, since it employs sexism.Surrealism
The device usually employs the use of non-sequiturs. A basic example is "what's two plus two? fish."the surreal life.
Taboo
There is a liberating element to saying something that nobody else would say in a civilised environment. Being disgusting or politically wrong in front of an audience can surprise and shock an audience. e.g. jokes about paedophiles.Funny Numbers
A more specific extension to understatement and overstatement, the choice of number when emphasising a quantity can be made funny by use of rarely used numbers. "four" is funnier than "seven" in understatement. This is because "four" is a less commonly thought of number, and can surprise an audience.Repetition
The lowest forms of humour are repetition, toilet humour, sarcasm, and repetition. Repetition is the basis for "Englishman, Irishman, and Scotsman" jokes, where repetition is used to set up a modus operandi before the Irishman (usually assumed to be the stupid one) provides the juxtaposition.Slapstick
Slapstick is a type of comedy involving exaggerated physical violence. Slapstick was heavily used by Buster KeatonBuster Keaton
Joseph Frank "Buster" Keaton was an American comic actor, filmmaker, producer and writer. He was best known for his silent films, in which his trademark was physical comedy with a consistently stoic, deadpan expression, earning him the nickname "The Great Stone Face".Keaton was recognized as the...
, Charlie Chaplin
Charlie Chaplin
Sir Charles Spencer "Charlie" Chaplin, KBE was an English comic actor, film director and composer best known for his work during the silent film era. He became the most famous film star in the world before the end of World War I...
, Laurel and Hardy
Laurel and Hardy
Laurel and Hardy were one of the most popular and critically acclaimed comedy double acts of the early Classical Hollywood era of American cinema...
, the Keystone Kops
Keystone Kops
The Keystone Kops were incompetent fictional policemen, featured in silent film comedies in the early 20th century. The movies were produced by Mack Sennett for his Keystone Film Company between 1912 and 1917. The idea came from Hank Mann who also played police chief Tehiezel in the first film...
, the Three Stooges. Slapstick is also common in animated cartoon
Cartoon
A cartoon is a form of two-dimensional illustrated visual art. While the specific definition has changed over time, modern usage refers to a typically non-realistic or semi-realistic drawing or painting intended for satire, caricature, or humor, or to the artistic style of such works...
s such as Tom and Jerry
Tom and Jerry
Tom and Jerry are the cat and mouse cartoon characters that were evolved starting in 1939.Tom and Jerry also may refer to:Cartoon works featuring the cat and mouse so named:* The Tom and Jerry Show...
and Looney Tunes
Looney Tunes
Looney Tunes is a Warner Bros. animated cartoon series. It preceded the Merrie Melodies series and was Warner Bros.'s first animated theatrical series. Since its first official release, 1930's Sinkin' in the Bathtub, the series has become a worldwide media franchise, spawning several television...
.
External links
- Classroom connections – describes mistaken twins as a comedic device
- Comic Devices and Conventions – analysis of comedic devices used in The Swaggering Soldier