Comedy

Lore & Background

Comedy originated in ancient Greece, where comic poets performed political satire in theaters to influence voters in Athenian democracy. The theatrical genre of Greek comedy is described as a dramatic performance pitting two groups, ages, genders, or societies against each other in an amusing agon or conflict. Northrop Frye depicted these opposing sides as a 'Society of Youth' and a 'Society of the Old', while a revised view characterizes the essential agon as a struggle between a relatively powerless youth and societal conventions. Aristotle defined comedy as an imitation of men worse than the average, but only insofar as they are Ridiculous, which is a species of the Ugly—a mistake or deformity not productive of pain or harm to others. He stated that comedy originated in phallic processions and the light treatment of the base and ugly, and that it had its own Muse: Thalia. Aristotle divided comedy into three subgenres: farce, romantic comedy, and satire. Plato, in contrast, taught that comedy is a destruction to the self, producing an emotion that overrides rational self-control, and argued in The Republic that the guardians of the state should avoid laughter.

Reader's Guide

Comedy's significance lies in its long history as a means of social commentary, entertainment, and exploration of human behavior. From its origins in ancient Greek political satire and phallic processions, comedy evolved through various forms including the satyr plays of Aristophanes, the commedia dell'arte that influenced the Punch and Judy show, and Elizabethan comedy with its happy endings and marriages. The term 'comedy' itself has shifted in meaning over time: the Greeks and Romans used it for stage-plays with happy endings; in the Middle Ages it expanded to include narrative poems with happy endings and later became synonymous with satire and humour. Aristotle viewed comedy as generally positive for society, bringing forth happiness, while Plato saw it as destructive to rational self-control. The genre encompasses many varieties—satire, parody, screwball comedy, black comedy, scatological humor, sexual humor, race humor, comedy of manners, and romantic comedy—each using humor to critique, subvert, or explore different aspects of life. Comedy's legacy is its enduring ability to provoke laughter while reflecting and challenging societal norms.

Did You Know?

• Comedy originated in ancient Greece, where political satire performed by comic poets influenced public opinion in Athenian democracy.
• Aristotle defined comedy as an imitation of men worse than the average, but only insofar as they are Ridiculous, which is a species of the Ugly.
• The word 'comedy' is derived from the Classical Greek κωμῳδία (kōmōidía), a compound of κῶμος 'revel' and ᾠδή 'singing'.
• Plato taught that comedy is a destruction to the self and argued that the guardians of the state should avoid laughter.