Comedy is the use of humour in the performing arts. It also means a performance that relies heavily on humor. The term originally comes from theater, where it simply referred to a play with a happy ending, in contrast to a tragedy. The humor, once an incidental device used to entertain, is now an essential aspect of a comedy.
A recognised characteristic of comedy is that it is an intensely personal enjoyment. People frequently fail to find the same things amusing, but when they do it can help to create powerful bonds.
Related articles
Forms
Styles
Historical or theatre
- clown (see also krumping)
- Commedia dell'arte - historically, a form of improvisational theatre, chiefly from the 16th to 18th centuries.
- Farce - most often thought of as theatrical, but has been adapted for other media.
- Jesters - clowns associated with the middle ages.
- Vaudeville - comedy performed in theatres that declined as television ownership increased.
Definitions
Comedy events and awards
Lists of comedy performers
by nationality
other
Lists of comedy programmes
Other lists
- List of comedies - theatre/radio/television and from France/Russia/Canada/Australia/UK/US
See also