Comedy as leisure has been round for some time. The oldest written comedy was written by a dramatist of the traditional Greek theater, Aristophanes. He wrote 40 comedies, and 11 of them are nonetheless being carried out at present.
These historical Greek comedies have been based mostly on “humor” that at present could be referred to as “politically incorrect.” They have been bawdy, sexist, and stuffed with sexual innuendo, and made enjoyable of sure teams or stereotypes.
Vaudeville gave start to fashionable humor. Though humor was nonetheless largely politically incorrect, it did transfer on from sexual innuendo and making enjoyable of sure teams of individuals to extra refined types of “humorous.”
When shifting photos got here alongside, comedy was based mostly virtually solely upon motion. We referred to as it “slapstick.” Punching, hitting, twisting arms, and so on. was humorous. The Three Stooges have been the quintessential slapstick comedians of the period. They might stroll right into a room stuffed with excessive society stuffed-shirts and go away the place in shambles. The Three Stooges films are nonetheless common at present, and no one has bettered their slapstick method – ever.
You’ll be able to’t talk about comedy with out mentioning the “first couple of comedy,” Lucy and Desi. The “I Love Lucy” Present was comedy at its finest. The jokes are nonetheless politically right at present. It wasn’t essential to depend on sexual innuendo or ethnic humor. Lucy and Desi have been simply FUNNY. These outdated reruns can nonetheless make folks snicker!
Sexual and ethnic humor will get the “least expensive” laughs. Little or no expertise is required, and even the timing is not all that necessary. REAL comedy makes you snicker with out counting on low-cost laughs. Take into consideration that the following time you watch what typically passes for comedy at present.
True comedians are actual artists. Comedy might be THE most troublesome type of leisure. Comedians and comedies haven’t got to attend for the evaluations to be written. If the viewers laughed in the proper locations, the present was a success. In the event that they did not, it wasn’t.
The leisure business contains every little thing that is make-believe and/or makes us snicker, cry, turn into fearful, or completely happy or unhappy – or expertise every other emotion due to what is occurring earlier than our eyes.
I name the circus leisure at its best, however there are those that would differ with me. Some need to classify the “leisure business” solely as performs, films, or tv that employs actresses and actors to painting make-believe characters. That is just too slim a definition for me. I’ve stood in entrance of the monkey cage on the zoo and laughed more durable than I did on the final comedy manufacturing that I attended.
The leisure business, in my view, contains something and every little thing that gives leisure – and that features the circus.
The circus has all of it. There’s suspense (excessive wire acts), there’s drama (trapeze acts), there’s comedy (clowns), and essentially the most wonderful educated unique animals you may think about. That is leisure. What else would you name it?
The circus is not new. There was a circus in historical Rome. There have been horse reveals, driving exhibitions, staged battles, and jugglers, acrobats, and educated animals. The Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey did not assume up the circus.