Slapstick comedy has been around for countless centuries. It has becomes familiarly known as one of the oldest, in addition to the simplest types of entertainment that aims to reach people in the simplest and plainest forms – that of physical comedy. It usually involves incredible physical violence that typically doesn’t make sense, and yet it still makes us laugh. Slapstick comedy is adapted in plays, films and even in children’s cartoons. It became well accepted during the era of black and while films when they were incredibly popular.
What characterizes slapstick comedy?
Slapstick is generally based on absurd and silly circumstances. In the 16th century comedians employed a paddle like device which is where slapstick comedy started from. It usually mimics outlandish circumstances of a pie in the face, pratfalls, practical joes, accidents, water soakings, being sprayed at by pepper spray, or being hit by a shock gun, wild chanse scenes with trains, cars and automotives, in addition to dangerous situations. Furthermore we also get the chance to laugh at an individual get run over by a bus. Slapstick comedy gives us a type of entertainment that countless can understand without words. It requires perfect timing and well-practiced performance.
Physical comedy generally depends on the audiences silent enjoyment of watching an individual in their mishaps and misfortunes. An expert once said that there are only six types of jokes—falls, blows, surprise, knavery, mimicry, stupidity. They all play an important role, yet when it comes to comedy to be stamed as slapstick it only requires the blow and fall.
When it comes to well known slapstick comedians, the most popular would be Charlie Chaplin. He created the famous tramp character. The Three Stooges also did some of the well known slapstick routines of today. They took slapstick comedy to an extreme level by verbally and physically abusing one another. They exchanged slaps at the faces, threw pies at one another, poked each other’s eyes, slammed each other with hammers and the list goes on. Children’s cartoons have also been known to introduce numerous slapstick acts. The Tom and Jerry series for example featured severe physical activities. The Looney Tunes are another who have included slapstick comedy into shows like Tasmanian devil, Bugs Bunny, as well as the Roadrunner, to name a few. Comedian Jim Carrey is popular for his many slapstick films which include The Mask, Ace Ventura, Liar Liar, and Dumb and Dumber.
Comedies such as slapstick comedy are aimed to excite, please and entertain. It is well known for overdoing each action, character and situation. In a way they deliver the frustrations of life through an amusing way.
Watching another person fall down, get slapped, or tripped over has always been and will always be a popular source of entertainment for all ages. Regardless of the fact that slapstick comedy has waned off since the silent era, many resources on this classic entertainment continue to exist and appear in shows and movies. Countless films and television directors will every now and then pay their respects to the masters when it comes to slapstick comedy by including physical comedy into their shows.