Silent Film ComedyA Content Analysis Diane Fitzpatrick

A slapstick from the Commedia dell’artefrom the Commedia dell’arte

Slapstick comedyPhysical comedy that Physical comedy that employs…employs… Broad humor Broad humor Absurd situationsAbsurd situations Vigorous, usually violent actionVigorous, usually violent action Often includes chasesOften includes chases

slapstickslapstick. (2010). In . (2010). In Encyclopædia BritannicaEncyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved November 21, 2010, . Retrieved November 21, 2010, from Encyclopædia Britannica Online: from Encyclopædia Britannica Online: http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/548077/slapstickhttp://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/548077/slapstick

Slapstick comedyHas become used to describe Has become used to describe most comedies of the silent era most comedies of the silent era even as they evolved toward even as they evolved toward more character/story-based more character/story-based humorhumorWith the more violent stuff termed With the more violent stuff termed “knockabout”“knockabout”

……A couple of examples…A couple of examples…(please don’t try this at home, kids)(please don’t try this at home, kids)

Oranges & Lemons1923

Barney Oldfield’s Race for a Life1913

The CodebookUnit of Analysis

Unit of Analysis The Laugh PointThe Laugh Point – the point during – the point during

a comic bit at which the audience a comic bit at which the audience laughslaughs

The Laugh RegionThe Laugh Region – a series of – a series of laughs that come so closely laughs that come so closely together as to be somewhat together as to be somewhat indistinguishable from one indistinguishable from one anotheranother

The CodebookMain Elements

The CodebookActing Style

Stage Acting Not naturalisticNot naturalistic Over-emphatic gestures and facial Over-emphatic gestures and facial

expressionsexpressions Derived from legitimate theater Derived from legitimate theater

and vaudevilleand vaudeville To be seen from a distance, orTo be seen from a distance, or Exaggerated for comic effectExaggerated for comic effect

Be My Wife1925

Pantomime & Transformation

Pantomime – The use of actions Pantomime – The use of actions and gestures to convey meaning and gestures to convey meaning without wordswithout words

Transformation – When an object Transformation – When an object known for one purpose/function is known for one purpose/function is treated as if it holds another treated as if it holds another purpose/functionpurpose/function

The Gold Rush1925

The CodebookPhysicality

Stunts & Danger PH7.PH7. StuntStunt.. Did an action Did an action

that contributed to the laugh point that contributed to the laugh point occur that would require such skill occur that would require such skill or coordination of movement that or coordination of movement that a professional would be needed to a professional would be needed to design or implement it? design or implement it?

PH8.PH8. DangerDanger. Did the above . Did the above stunt involve apparent danger to stunt involve apparent danger to the character?the character?

Our Hospitality1923

The CodebookLaugh Point Motivation

Story motivation

LP2: Story.LP2: Story. Was the action at Was the action at the laugh point caused by the laugh point caused by something NOT clearly motivated something NOT clearly motivated by the story?by the story?

Get Out & Get Under1920

The CodebookEffects

The CodebookHumor Theory

Some sample codingThe Freshman, 1925

The Freshman1925

Discussion Does anything from the codebook Does anything from the codebook

stick out as…stick out as… unclear, unclear, ambiguous, or ambiguous, or needing refinement?needing refinement?

Help!I need two people interested in I need two people interested in coding a 20-minute segment of coding a 20-minute segment of The The FreshmanFreshman..

Any takers?Any takers?

The End.