Play GenresPlay Genres

Genres Genres GenreGenre is a French word meaning  is a French word meaning "category" "category"

or "type." or "type."

The choice of The choice of genregenre reflects the  reflects the writer's writer's point of viewpoint of view towards his  towards his subjectsubject..

The two oldest The two oldest genresgenres, dating back to the , dating back to the

fifth century BCE, are fifth century BCE, are tragedy and comedytragedy and comedy..

Comedy and TragedyComedy and Tragedy In a In a tragedytragedy, the protagonist , the protagonist

goes down in defeat (hence goes down in defeat (hence the the frownfrown),),

In a In a comedycomedy he/she  he/she overcomes the dramatic overcomes the dramatic obstacle and attains his/her obstacle and attains his/her major objective (which is why major objective (which is why he's he's smilingsmiling).).

Genres – 6 Common TypesGenres – 6 Common Types

1.1. ComedyComedy2.2. FarceFarce3.3. Tragicomedy/Black ComedyTragicomedy/Black Comedy4.4. TragedyTragedy5.5. DramaDrama6.6. MelodramaMelodrama

ComedyComedy A play that makes you laugh, A play that makes you laugh,

has plots that end happily has plots that end happily and reaffirms the and reaffirms the values you hold to values you hold to be important.be important.

ComedyComedyThe rungs on the Ladder of Comedy1.Comedy of ideas (satire).2.Comedy of character,3.Comedy of wit (the humor is in the lines themselves),4.Comedy of situation (SitCom),5.Comedy of pain (slapstick),6.The "dirty" joke -- bathroom humor.

The bottom four rungs -- the comedy of pain, situation, wit and the "dirty joke" -- are generally considered low comedy. The top two rungs, the comedy of character and idea, are high comedy.

High ComedyHigh Comedy The subject of The subject of high comedyhigh comedy is usually  is usually

serious and provokes "thoughtful laughter".serious and provokes "thoughtful laughter".

The action is both possible and probable and The action is both possible and probable and the comedy grows out of the character, not the comedy grows out of the character, not the situation. It is usually a realistic portrayal the situation. It is usually a realistic portrayal of life. of life. 

Tends to be upper classTends to be upper class• Oscar Wilde – The Importance of Being EarnestOscar Wilde – The Importance of Being Earnest

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=Qwx74IfTNwo&list=PLCBBFDF3132ED186A

Low ComedyLow Comedy Low comedy refers to the type of humor that is Low comedy refers to the type of humor that is

focused primarily on the situation or series of focused primarily on the situation or series of events. This represents the lowest level of the events. This represents the lowest level of the comedy ladder. comedy ladder.

It can include such things as It can include such things as physical mishaps, physical mishaps, humor concerning the human body humor concerning the human body

and its functions, and its functions, coincidences, and humorous situations. coincidences, and humorous situations.

Low ComedyLow Comedy The humor is straightforward and generally The humor is straightforward and generally easy to easy to

follow and understand.follow and understand. Characters are Characters are grossly exaggerated caricaturesgrossly exaggerated caricatures

rather than fully developed characters. rather than fully developed characters. These caricatures are likely to be caught in unlikely These caricatures are likely to be caught in unlikely

situations or to become victims of circumstances seemingly situations or to become victims of circumstances seemingly beyond their control. Thus, the plot takes priority over the beyond their control. Thus, the plot takes priority over the characters. characters.

Low ComedyLow Comedy Humor in what the characters doHumor in what the characters do

Examples of low comedy might include Examples of low comedy might include Dumb and Dumber, Scary Movie, and America’s Dumb and Dumber, Scary Movie, and America’s

Funniest Home Videos. Funniest Home Videos. Shakespeare’s comedies, such as Midsummer Night’s Shakespeare’s comedies, such as Midsummer Night’s

Dream and Twelfth Night, are full of low humor.Dream and Twelfth Night, are full of low humor.

The Three StoogesThe Three Stoogeshttp://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=Zv53xIypO1A

FarceFarce A wildly humorous play which A wildly humorous play which emphasizes emphasizes

situationsituation (or plot) over character or idea.  (or plot) over character or idea.

““Very fast tempo, with characters running in Very fast tempo, with characters running in and out of doors and meeting the very and out of doors and meeting the very characters they shouldn’t”.characters they shouldn’t”.

I Love LucyI Love Lucy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=0YGF5R9i53A

Black ComedyBlack Comedy Comedy that treads the fine line of good taste. Comedy that treads the fine line of good taste.

Morbidly comic.Morbidly comic.

Arsenic and Old LaceArsenic and Old Lace

FargoFargohttp://www.youtube.com/watch?http://www.youtube.com/watch?

feature=player_detailpage&v=h2tY82z3xXUfeature=player_detailpage&v=h2tY82z3xXU

TragedyTragedy A drama or literary work in A drama or literary work in

which the main character is which the main character is brought to ruin or suffers brought to ruin or suffers extreme sorrow, especially as extreme sorrow, especially as a consequence of a tragic flaw, a consequence of a tragic flaw, moral weakness, or inability to cope moral weakness, or inability to cope with unfavorable circumstances. with unfavorable circumstances. HamletHamlet OedipusOedipus The CrucibleThe Cruciblehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?http://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=wa4KooCkfpw&feature=PlayList&p=4F5F16D7DB7F7C79&index=17v=wa4KooCkfpw&feature=PlayList&p=4F5F16D7DB7F7C79&index=17

DramaDrama A play that is serious but not tragic. A play that is serious but not tragic.

Relies on the emotional and relational Relies on the emotional and relational development of realistic characters. development of realistic characters. 

12 Angry Men12 Angry Menhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?http://www.youtube.com/watch?

feature=player_detailpage&v=RNs6yZ78Ik4feature=player_detailpage&v=RNs6yZ78Ik4

MelodramaMelodrama A A serious playserious play with a trivial theme.  with a trivial theme.

The conflict is usually between the forces of The conflict is usually between the forces of good and good and evilevil. .

Excitement comes through physical action: Excitement comes through physical action: chases, fist chases, fist fights, shoot outs... fights, shoot outs...

Many of the melodramas of the Many of the melodramas of the nineteenth century included a musical (hence nineteenth century included a musical (hence melomelodrama) drama) score. score. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=SNkrfnWmYfMhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=SNkrfnWmYfM