Comedy

Comedy as a branch of the performing arts centers on works and performances that use wit, satire, physical humor, and timing to entertain and provoke thought. This subject covers the craft, history, and evolution of comedic forms across the stage, screen, and other media, distinguishing itself from other performing arts by its emphasis on humor, parody, and social commentary.

To focus your research in comedy, you might look for treatments of specific comedic genres, such as standup, sketch, slapstick, or satirical theatre. Comparing comedy to its parent category, Performing Arts, helps you isolate training methods, writing guides, or histories that are distinctively centered on laughter’s role in performance.