Comedy of manners

what we use it for? I am inclined to deny that definition completely. While it is true that we sometimes use it in its most innocent form, we tend to change it into a weapon or barricade. How often do you hear someone call someone out in a “humorous” manner? Why is it that it strikes you that they may have not meant what they said in a…

Do You See What I See? Satire is generally sarcastic and it can be both humorous and biting. There are two types of satire, Horatian and Juvenalian. Horatian is tolerant, indulgent, witty and funny. Juvenalian is generally very biting. The speaker generally attacks vice and error with indignation and contempt. Satire is meant to be used to raise the awareness of the public to hopefully instigate a change within society. Megan LeBoeuf states, “Satire is a powerful art form which has the ability…

As the clock strikes eleven, with the world being only minutes away from being fast asleep, the TV comes to life with late night talk shows and comedic entertainment. The humor and skits capture each viewer into a mesmerizing trance, leaving everyone in tears from the hysterical performance. What the viewers don’t realize is not only are they being entertained, but they are also being informed on current issues. Each show is made by men and women who are not only facetious, but are also very…

The idea that comedy, or even entertainment as a whole, should have limits have been around for a while now. Angry parents and social justice warriors have gone out of their way to stop, or limit, the comedians who use offensive humor. Some comedians see the uproar of the people to stop making offensive jokes while others see it as a challenge to upset the most people. Now, most comedians don’t want to lose their jobs so they still don’t push the limits too far; that is, unless that's how they…

The Comedy of Errors is a lesser known Shakespearian tale, of two sets of brothers in a not-so-familiar setting. Two sets of identical twins are separated at birth – Egeon, a merchant, Emilia, his wife, his two twin sons (both named Antipholus), and the two slaves (also twins, both named Dromio) to the merchant’s sons are hit by a tempest and one son and slave stays with the Duke of Ephesus while the other son and slave are with his wife. It is a story of reunion as Antipholus and Dromio of…

One of the other optical illusions that a comedy film-maker could take advantage of is foreshortening. Since the brain assumes something that something such as the end of a pencil is actually a full pencil with the rest of its length behind it, the mind creates the illusion that the object recedes into the background in its full length rather than being as short as the eyes actually see it. Film-makers could use this to create a situation where once again both the main character and the audience…

“Back off man; I’m a scientist.” In the movie, Ghostbusters, Peter Venkman is a parapsychologist and the leader of the Ghostbusters. Peter and I are similar because we are both funny, random, and very talkative. Peter and I are both funny. Peter was never serious with anything he did, and he always had an amusing comment to add to any situation. In my opinion, I can be capricious at times. I love having a good laugh and sharing one. Sometimes when I’m goofing off with friends, I can sometimes…

identity is a plot device that dates back to the writers named Menander and Plautus in ancient Greek and Roman times (Kiryakakis 1). Shakespeare borrowed the idea to create comedies that are still read and performed over four hundred years after they were written. Authors today still follow Shakespeare’s model to create modern day comedies using the literary device of mistaken identity. Furthermore, in everyday life in the modern world there are opportunities for mistaken identity to show…

This career has been a major part of my life, even when I was a small child. My father was a high school history teacher. If my father had not been in this position, I would not be who I am today. I have always had a deep love for history and art (that my father most certainly instilled in me). This has become part of who I am and shapes how I see the world. Never once do I see a classical-facade building and not identify the type of pillars out front.The emperors of ancient Rome have become a…

Halloween is the only day of the year when wearing a scary costume, asking strangers for food, and scaring people is acceptable. Being a clown would be the best Halloween costume, even though it would be more tricks than treats. To the regular eye clowns seem cute and funny, but some see the real truth behind them. Clowns are sinister. A clown is one of the most scary things, making it the perfect Halloween costume. Clowns are real, unlike monsters or zombies. Clowns are at birthday parties,…