Low comedy, also known as lowbrow humor, is a type of comedy that is a popular form of entertainment. Its main goal is to make people laugh through actions like bragging, loud jokes, drunken behavior, scolding, fighting, acting silly, and other noisy or wild activities. This type of comedy often includes "horseplay," which is playful but rough behavior, as well as slapstick or farce. Examples of low comedy include throwing a custard pie in someone's face. The definition now also includes simple physical jokes, like pulling up someone's pants in a funny way (called a wedgie). The term "low comedy" was created by John Dryden in the introduction to his play An Evening's Love.
History
This type of comedy has been a common feature since ancient Greek plays. For example, Sophocles once wrote a satyr play, now lost, in which satyrs tried to convince a king that they were suitable husbands for his daughter by boasting about their ability to produce loud noises from their stomachs. Aristophanes stated that he wanted his plays to be easy for common people to understand, but he also recognized that his work required some level of knowledge that was not usually expected. The word "comedy" comes from a Greek phrase meaning either a song celebrating a festival or a song from a village, which suggests it was meant for everyone, including those with little education.
Low comedy was first called comedy for common people because it was often performed by street entertainers. Over time, as low comedy included more inappropriate jokes and physical humor, it became popular among mainstream performers, such as stand-up comedians and musicals. This type of comedy also appeared in many cartoons. For instance, in Porky's Duck Hunt, Porky Pig is frequently shown in slapstick situations. In a 1945 Bugs Bunny cartoon that mocked Hermann Göring, Bugs Bunny tore off Göring's medals one by one, and Göring's trousers fell off. Similarly, in "wabbit season" cartoons, Daffy Duck is often shot by Elmer Fudd.
Social context
Low comedy is a type of humor that is widely recognized in society. It appears in many forms of media, such as television and theater. It is also common in public settings and among people with jobs like clowns, mimes, and comedians. The term "low" is connected to "low culture," which refers to entertainment that is more accessible and less complex than "high culture." This type of comedy is aimed at people who finish high school without going to college. It is not limited to those with advanced education or knowledge. Low comedy is popular today because it is easy to understand and enjoyed by people of all backgrounds. It relates to popular culture through its simple and direct style.
However, low comedy is often not respected by many people and is considered less valuable than high comedy. The main goal of low comedy is to make people laugh. Since most forms of low comedy do not include clear messages or deeper meanings, it is not highly valued. This does not mean it is ineffective at making people laugh.
The way society defines what is considered low or high comedy changes over time. As society evolves, so do the ideas about what is classified as high or low comedy. Some television shows, such as the animated series The Simpsons, mix elements of both low and high comedy. For example, The Simpsons includes slapstick humor, which is a type of low comedy, but it also uses humor to comment on political issues and copy famous movies and books.
Today, low comedy is found in many different types of entertainment. Sitcoms, or situation comedies, often use low comedy as the main part of their stories because society influences what is considered acceptable and popular. Modern versions of Shakespeare's plays also use low comedy to help audiences understand the story in a new way. For instance, in the play As You Like It, a woman named Rosalind pretends to be a man and meets the man she loves. During this time, she also causes a woman named Phoebe to fall in love with the man Rosalind is pretending to be, even though Phoebe is not interested in the man she is actually dating.