Comedy of Menace

 Thinking Activity

 

             Comedy of Menace

    Hello! Here I am going to write down another blog on Comedy of Menace. The task is given by Yesha Ma’am , department of English, MK ,Bhavnagar University. This blog is a part of our thinking activity. In our syllabus we are studying both Absurd Theatre and comedies. 

 Characteristics of Comedy of Menace

            The drama, especially Comedy of Manners, proved to be one of the most important genres in the Restoration Era. In Spite of the prohibition of play acting during the Commonwealth, comedy had still been performed from time to time, chiefly in the form of droll. It started developing after the reopening of the theatres in 1660.

   The cynical decadence of the age was alien to the spirit of the Elizabethan romantic comedy. However, Restoration comedy was indebted to the Jonsonian school as well as to Beaumont and Fletcher. The continental influence was also strong; especially those of Moliere and Calderon. There are mainly Seven types of Comedies and Comedy of menace is one of them.

   1. Sentimental Comedy 

   2. Comedy of Humors 

   3. Comedy of Errors

   4. Farce 

   5. High comedy and Low comedy 

   6. Comedy of manners

   7. Comedy of Menace 

1. Sentimental Comedy 

Definition of sentimental comedy (Merriam Webster) :

 comedy that addresses itself to the spectator's love of goodness rather than to his sense of humor and emphasizes the moral aspects of its situations and the virtues of its characters. 

     A new genre of 'sentimental' comedy 'in which the excesses of the post-Restoration tradition were excised and a morally correct happy ending provided.' 

2. Comedy of Humors

     I aim to study comedy and humor from an ethical perspective. My main proposal is that comedy and humor can be understood alternatively in the light of ethics, and in one sense, they actually begin, more effectively, with an ethical sensibility. Effective comedy and humor initiate through an ethical sensibility called "hospitality": ideally, they are preceded by this ethical openness. I will argue that it is this pre-original ethical hospitality and openness that can give rise to more effective moments of comedy, humor, carnival, festivity and also laughter, opening the Self to the Other in order to be able to enter into a disinterested humorous experience.

3. Comedy of Errors 

 

   The "Comedy of Errors" is a genre of play that focuses on humorous situations arising from misunderstandings, mistaken identities, and other forms of confusion. The term "Comedy of Errors" specifically refers to a play written by William Shakespeare in the 16th century, but the genre itself dates back to ancient Greek and Roman theatre. The Comedy of Errors is a popular and enduring genre of theatre that has been entertaining audiences for centuries. The Comedy of Errors includes slapstick humor, witty wordplay, and exaggerated characters.

4. Farce 

           A farce is a genre of comedy that is characterized by its fast-paced, chaotic, and absurd plot, as well as its use of physical humor and exaggerated characters. Farces often involve mistaken identities, romantic misunderstandings, and outrageous situations that test the limits of believability.

5. High Comedy and Law comedy 

       High comedy is a type of comedy that emphasizes wit, satire, and intellectual humor. It typically involves clever wordplay, intricate plots, and characters with complex personalities. High comedy and low comedy are terms used to describe two different types of comedy in theater and literature, while law comedy is a subgenre of comedy that focuses on legal themes.

6. Comedy of Manners 

            Comedy of Manners is a type of comedy that flourished in the late 17th and early 18th centuries in England. It is a form of satirical comedy that focuses on the manners and customs of a particular social class, usually the upper classes. Comedy of Manners include plays like William Congreve's "The Way of the World" and Oscar Wilde's "The Importance of Being Earnest." 

7. Comedy of Menace 

          "Comedy of Menace" is a term used to describe a type of dark humor that explores the absurdity and danger of everyday life. It was first coined by the British playwright Harold Pinter in the 1950s

• Characteristics of Comedy of Menace: 

• Sense of unease or tension throughout the story

• Characters in dangerous or uncomfortable situations

• The threat of violence or harm is present but not always acted upon

• The humor comes from the absurdity of the situation or the characters' reactions

• The tone is often dark or satirical

• The comedy can be uncomfortable or unsettling, but ultimately entertaining.

• Dark and unsettling humor : The Comedy of Menace is known for its dark and unsettling humor that often explores the darker aspects of human nature. It may include elements of violence, cruelty, and psychological manipulation.

• Absurd situations : The Comedy of Menace often includes absurd situations that challenge the audience's expectations and sense of logic. 

• Use of irony : The Comedy of Menace often uses irony to create humor and to comment on the human condition. 

Thank You… .