generic conventions of comedy
DESCRIPTION
-TRANSCRIPT
Generic Conventions of...
Generic Conventions are the features shown by texts that allow them to be put into a specific genre. For example: Almost all Westerns use the Iconography of cowboy hats, six shooters, horses and spurs to place them in their genre. Similarly Situation: Comedies will often have canned laughter, a few specific and long-running characters and locations and several catch-phrases
What is a generic convention...
Types of comedySettingTechnical codeIconographyTypes of charactersThemesSound
Generic conventions of comedy
Slapstick This type of comedy uses physical movement and gestures. Physical comedy is often influenced by clowning.
Dark humour Deals with disturbing subjects such as death, drugs, terrorism, rape and war.
Wit/Wordplay More intellectual forms of comedy based on clever , often subtle manipulation of language (though puns can be crude and farcical).
Types of comedy
Depends on the type of comedyGeneric places:
TownsCitiesBright placesWell populated areas
Teen comedy: High SchoolSmall towns
Social comedy:HomesBars
Setting
High Shots – to capture the whole environment
Natural camera to go along with the characters
Medium shots to capture all the characters expressions
Editing sounds to add humour and slapstick effects
Technical Code
Bright colours e.g. Blue and Yellow. Usually shot brightly when during the day
Props include things such as golf sticks, footballs etc. Anything that can be used to increase the comedic value
Iconography
Idiotic/stupid – very accident proneSmart/Nerd – socially awkwardRegular – accidents appear around them,
they can be very sarcastic
Types of characters
Anarchic comedyGross-outParodyRomantic comedyScrew ball comedySlapstick
Themes
Sound is a very important part of a comedyDiegetic sounds – e.g. Dialogue needs to be
clear to make sure that it the words can be heard and laughed at
Non-Diegetic sounds – e.g. Sound effects need to be heard as they add emphasis on certain scenes
Sound