Comedy (drama)
A dramatic genre with happy endings and humorous tone.
Comedy is a dramatic genre characterized by a light or humorous tone, focusing on amusing events in which the main characters overcome difficulties. In ancient Greece and Rome, the term specifically referred to a stage play that ended happily. During the Middle Ages, its meaning broadened to include narrative poems with cheerful endings and a lighter feel, which is how Dante used it in the title of *The Divine Comedy*.
Psychologists have closely studied laughter and what triggers it. Key features include incongruity or contrast in the subject, and a sense of shock or emotional reaction in the observer. Some thinkers, like Thomas Hobbes, have argued that a feeling of superiority is essential, describing laughter as a "sudden glory." Modern research has explored the origins of laughter and smiling, as well as the development of the "play instinct" and its emotional expression.
Comedy often relies on surprise, incongruity, conflict, repetition, and the subversion of expectations, though many distinct genres exist. Satire and political satire use ironic humor to portray people or institutions as ridiculous or corrupt, pushing the audience away from the target of the joke. Parody borrows the form of a popular genre, artwork, or text but introduces ironic changes to critique it from within, not necessarily in a condemning way. Screwball comedy gets its humor from bizarre, surprising, and improbable situations or characters. Black comedy makes light of dark or evil aspects of human nature. Scatological, sexual, and race humor break social conventions or taboos for comedic effect.
A comedy of manners typically targets a specific social group, often the upper class, using humor to parody or satirize its behavior and mannerisms. Romantic comedy humorously depicts budding romance, focusing on the flaws of people falling in love.
The word "comedy" comes from the Classical Greek *κωμῳδία*, a compound of either *κῶμος* (revel) or *κώμη* (village) and *ᾠδή* (singing); *κῶμος* itself may derive from *κώμη*, originally meaning a village revel. The adjective "comic" (Greek *κωμικός*), strictly meaning something related to comedy, is now mostly used to mean "laughter-provoking." The word entered modern usage through Latin *comoedia* and Italian *commedia*, shifting in meaning over time.
In ancient Greece, comedy likely began with songs or recitations at fertility festival
- field
- Dramatic performance
- known_for
- Light or humorous tone, happy endings, and provoking laughter
Lore & Background
The word 'comedy' derives from Classical Greek κωμῳδία, a compound either of κῶμος (revel) or κώμη (village) and ᾠδή (singing). In ancient Greece, comedy seems to have originated in songs or recitations apropos of fertility festivals or gatherings, or in making fun at other people or stereotypes. Aristotle states in the Poetics that comedy originated in phallic rituals and festivals of mirth, and is an imitation of 'the ridiculous, which is a species of the ugly.' He taught that comedy brings forth happiness, the ideal state, and that a happy ending is all that is required. In contrast, Plato taught that comedy is a destruction to the self, producing an emotion that overrides rational self-control, and said it should be tightly controlled in the ideal state.
Reader's Guide
Comedy has been a significant dramatic form since ancient Greece, with Aristotle and Plato offering contrasting views on its value. Aristotle saw it as a good thing that brings happiness, while Plato considered it destructive to self-control. The genre has evolved to include many recognized subgenres, such as satire, parody, screwball comedy, black comedy, comedy of manners, and romantic comedy. Literary critic Northrop Frye described the comic genre as a drama pitting two societies against each other in an amusing conflict, often a 'Society of Youth' versus a 'Society of the Old.' A later view characterizes the essential struggle as between a powerless youth and societal conventions. Comedy's legacy includes a wide range of dramatic types, from ancient Greek and Roman comedy to Shakespearean comedy, Restoration comedy, farce, and the Theatre of the Absurd. Its enduring appeal lies in its ability to provoke laughter through elements like surprise, incongruity, and the violation of social conventions.
Did You Know?
- The word 'comedy' is derived from Classical Greek κωμῳδία, a compound either of κῶμος (revel) or κώμη (village) and ᾠδή (singing).
- Aristotle taught that comedy originated in phallic rituals and festivals of mirth.
- Plato taught that comedy is a destruction to the self and should be tightly controlled in the ideal state.
- Literary critic Northrop Frye depicted the comic genre as a drama pitting a 'Society of Youth' against a 'Society of the Old.'
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Comedy (drama)?
Comedy is a dramatic genre built around a light, humorous tone in which the main characters face difficulties but ultimately overcome them. Its defining hallmark is a happy resolution, setting it apart from more somber forms of storytelling.
Where did Comedy (drama) originate?
The term first took shape in ancient Greece and Rome, where it described a specific type of stage play that concluded with a joyful outcome for the characters. It was one of the foundational pillars of classical theatrical performance.
How did Comedy (drama) evolve after the classical era?
During the Middle Ages, the concept broadened well beyond the stage to encompass narrative poems that carried a cheerful ending and a lighter overall feel. Dante's choice of the title *The Divine Comedy* reflects this expanded, medieval understanding of the genre.
What psychological elements make Comedy (drama) effective?
Researchers note that incongruity or unexpected contrast in the subject matter is a central trigger for laughter. A secondary element is a brief sense of shock or emotional jolt that releases tension and amplifies the humorous effect.
Why is Comedy (drama) considered an important ancient invention?
It gave audiences a structured, performative space to experience humor and catharsis through characters who triumph over obstacles. Its influence stretched from Greek amphitheaters all the way into medieval literature, shaping how stories with joyful endings are told to this day.
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