Comedy

by Andrew Stott

What is comedy? Andrew Stott tackles this question through an investigation of comic forms, theories and techniques, tracing the historical definitions of comedy from Aristotle to Chris Morris's Brass Eye via Wilde and Hancock. Rather than attempting to produce a totalising definition of 'the comic', this volume focuses on the significance of comic 'events' through study of various theoretical methodologies, including deconstruction, psychoanalysis and gender theory, and provides case studies of a number of themes, ranging from the drag act to the simplicity of slipping on a banana skin.

Genres: Nonfiction, Humor, Comedy

176 pages, Paperback

First published November 25, 2004

Reviews

[Arjun Ravichandran · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was looking for a book as to why we laugh and why we find certain things funny ; the reviews mentioned that the book covered Freud's theories of humour, as well as certain other philosophical views of humour and laughter. While these were indeed present, they were in short supply ; rather, there was a slightly academic discussion of comedy considered as a dramatic category, plus a reading of common comedic tropes through some sort of a critical theory paradigm. All in all, it was a little obtuse and not exactly what I was looking for, but there were more than enough sections (especially the last chapter) to justify the book.

[Benjamin Fasching-Gray · Rating 4 out of 5]

Every time I read literary criticism, I am always surprised by how much I enjoy it.

[Steven · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solid critical introduction to the theory and practice of comedy starting from Plato and Aristotle. Includes a good discussion of Bakhtin's ideas about carnival and Begson's elan vital. Stott takes up comic identity, gender and sexuality, the body, politics, and laughter. The glossary, bibliography, and index are adequate, but not terribly comprehensive.

[Matthew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delivers exactly what it promises in clear, accessible prose.