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Author Topic: comedy as genre  (Read 1166 times)

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Offline jman123

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comedy as genre
« on: July 23, 2014, 02:36:52 PM »
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  •  have noticed that comedy almost always is oriented to Marriage. I have seen this from Shakespeare on down to even today. Why is comedy oriented towards Marriage?


    Offline MariaCatherine

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    comedy as genre
    « Reply #1 on: July 24, 2014, 10:26:21 AM »
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  • I was taught that good comedy usually begins in chaos and ends in order (the reverse being the case in tragedy). For Shakespeare, who was probably a Catholic, order would mean everything traditional, including marriage.

    The universality of the institution of marriage makes it an excellent topic for drama in general.
    What return shall I make to the Lord for all the things that He hath given unto me?


    Offline Mithrandylan

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    comedy as genre
    « Reply #2 on: July 24, 2014, 11:16:40 AM »
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  • It's interesting that modern comedies are motivated by sex and have that as their end, but are conspicuously silent (or worse, disdainful) toward marriage.
    "Be kind; do not seek the malicious satisfaction of having discovered an additional enemy to the Church... And, above all, be scrupulously truthful. To all, friends and foes alike, give that serious attention which does not misrepresent any opinion, does not distort any statement, does not mutilate any quotation. We need not fear to serve the cause of Christ less efficiently by putting on His spirit". (Vermeersch, 1913).

    Offline TKGS

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    comedy as genre
    « Reply #3 on: July 24, 2014, 12:04:33 PM »
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  • The modern "comedy" is what Shakespeare would have called a "farce".

    It used to be that a "tragedy" ended in a sad state.  A "comedy" ended in a happy state.  The farce was simply designed to evoke laughter throughout.

    I've noticed that the very few "comedies" I've seen in the last few years are all, as Mithrandylan noted above, oriented towards the obscene.  I shutter to think that I actually thought they were "funny" in my youth.  If any of them are "oriented to Marriage" is not something I can answer, though it would make sense since marriage is a universally understood institution as MariaCatherine pointed out, which is also the reason marriage is under so great an attack today:  Attack under the pretense of "tragedy" as well as though "farce".  In fact, the traditional understanding of marriage is today also often being attacked in "comedy", or happy endings.