Types of Comedy & Comedic Devices

1. Types of Comedy & Comedic Devices

2. FARCE Definition: comedy based on far-fetched, humorous situations. T.V. shows: “Friends”, “Seinfeld”. Films: “Superbad”, “I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry”, “Enchanted”, “Tropic Thunder”**. **Also a satire

3. SATIRE Definition: Holds up to ridicule the wrongdoings of others. Although usually meant to be funny, the purpose of satire is not primarily humor itself so much as an attack on something of which the author strongly disapproves, using the weapon of wit.

4. Examples of Satire On T.V.: “The Simpsons”, “Family Guy”, “The Colbert Report”, “This Hour Has 22 Minutes” On Film: “Borat”, “Starship Troopers”, “Election”

5. Pun Definition: A pun consists of a deliberate confusion of similar words or phrases for humorous effect: a “play on words”. Puns may use multiple words that sound alike but have different meanings (homonymy), words that have multiple meanings (polysemy), or rely on the literal meaning with a metaphor. Bad puns are often considered to be “cheesy”.

6. Examples of Puns: “A three-legged dog walks into a saloon in the Old West. He slides up to the bar and announces: "I'm looking for the man who shot my paw." “Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.” “A man was caught stealing corn from a garden. He was charged with stalking.”