Author: Kliph Nesteroff Publisher: Open Road + Grove/Atlantic ISBN: 0802190863 Category : Performing Arts Languages : en Pages : 460
Book Description
“Funny [and] fascinating . . . If you’re a comedy nerd you’ll love this book.” —Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Named a Best Book of the Year by Kirkus Reviews, National Post, and Splitsider Based on over two hundred original interviews and extensive archival research, this groundbreaking work is a narrative exploration of the way comedians have reflected, shaped, and changed American culture over the past one hundred years. Starting with the vaudeville circuit at the turn of the last century, the book introduces the first stand-up comedian—an emcee who abandoned physical shtick for straight jokes. After the repeal of Prohibition, Mafia-run supper clubs replaced speakeasies, and mobsters replaced vaudeville impresarios as the comedian’s primary employer. In the 1950s, the late-night talk show brought stand-up to a wide public, while Lenny Bruce, Mort Sahl, and Jonathan Winters attacked conformity and staged a comedy rebellion in coffeehouses. From comedy’s part in the civil rights movement and the social upheaval of the late 1960s, to the first comedy clubs of the 1970s and the cocaine-fueled comedy boom of the 1980s, The Comedians culminates with a new era of media-driven celebrity in the twenty-first century. “Entertaining and carefully documented . . . jaw-dropping anecdotes . . . This book is a real treat.” —Merrill Markoe, TheWall Street Journal
Author: James Feibleman Publisher: Routledge ISBN: 1000579239 Category : Literary Criticism Languages : en Pages : 212
Book Description
First published in 1939, the original blurb reads: We have learned much lately concerning theories of laughter, yet laughter is only what we do about comedy. What is comedy itself? In this work the history of comic instances is combed in the search for the truth about comedy. Today, when laughter is stifled in so many countries, an exposition of comedy shows it to have a universal and necessary character. Comedy, as its natures reveals, is one criterion of the state of human culture; it is highly contemporary and requires freedom – but freedom for adventure, not for routine. After a chapter devoted to the explanation of a logical theory of comedy, the modern comedians are examined, and the humour of every one, from the Marx Brothers to surrealism, from Gertrude Stein to Mickey Mouse, from James Joyce to Charlie Chaplin, is shown to be a constant, inherent in the same set of unchanging conditions.
Author: Matthew C. Farmer Publisher: Oxford University Press ISBN: 019063071X Category : History Languages : en Pages : 289
Book Description
Aristophanes' engagement with tragedy is one of the most striking features of his comedies: Euripides appears repeatedly as a character in these plays, jokes about tragedy and tragic poets abound, and parodies of tragedy frequently underlie whole scenes and even the plots of these plays. Tragedy on the Comic Stage contextualizes this engagement with tragedy within Greek comedy as a genre by examining paratragedy in the fragments of Aristophanes' contemporaries and successors in the fifth and fourth centuries. Farmer organizes these fragments under two rubrics. First, he discusses fragments that show characters discussing tragedy, use tragic poets as characters, or make reference to the dramatic festivals; these fragments, Farmer argues, develop a “culture of tragedy” within Greek comedy, a consistent set of tropes and devices that depict tragedy as part of the world inhabited by the characters of these plays. Second, he assembles fragments that show tragic parody, imitations of tragedy that render tragic language humorous or ironic by juxtaposing it with the base characters and quotidian circumstances that make up Greek comedy. Tragedy on the Comic Stage then illustrates these features of fragmentary paratragedy within three intact Aristophanic comedies: Wasps, Women at the Thesmophoria, and Wealth. These new readings of Aristophanes' plays show the value of reading Aristophanes in conjunction with the comic fragments, and insist on the subtlety and complexity of Aristophanic paratragedy.
Author: Kristine Brunovska Karnick Publisher: Psychology Press ISBN: 0415906407 Category : Comedy films Languages : en Pages : 440
Book Description
Applies the recent `return to history' in film studies to the genre of classical Hollywood comedy as well as broadening the definition of those works considered central in this field.
Author: Margo Daly Publisher: Rough Guides ISBN: 9781843530909 Category : Australia Languages : en Pages : 1280
Book Description
With fresh journalistic writing and reams of information on what to see and do, this guide takes readers from the big cities to the countryside. Includes candid reviews on restaurants and accommodations for all budgets. 83 maps. Full-color insert. Two-color throughout.
Author: ChatStick Team Publisher: ChatStick Team ISBN: Category : Biography & Autobiography Languages : en Pages : 119
Book Description
🌟 Discover the Life and Legacy of a Cinematic Genius! 🎬 Dive into the captivating journey of Charlie Chaplin in "Charlie Chaplin: The Icon of Comedy." This comprehensive biography unveils the man behind the screen legend, from his humble beginnings to becoming one of the most influential figures in the history of cinema. 🔍 About This Book: "Charlie Chaplin: The Icon of Comedy" offers an in-depth exploration of Chaplin's life and his monumental contributions to film and comedy. Each chapter meticulously details significant periods of his life: The Early Years: Uncover Chaplin's childhood, family background, and initial steps into the world of entertainment. Rise to Fame: Follow Chaplin's extraordinary journey from local stages to the pinnacle of silent film. Mastering Silent Comedy: Delve into Chaplin's unique style and how he revolutionized the genre of comedy. Iconic Roles and Performances: Relive Chaplin's most memorable roles and their lasting impact on cinema and culture. Chaplin in the Sound Era: Explore the challenges and triumphs Chaplin faced during the transition to talkies. Off-Screen Persona: Get a glimpse of Chaplin's life outside the film studio, including his personal relationships and political views. Legacy and Influence: Reflect on Chaplin's enduring impact on the film industry and his status as a cultural icon. 🌟 Why Read This Book? Gain insights into the struggles and triumphs of a man who forever changed the face of cinema. Understand the significance of Chaplin's work in the context of film history and societal evolution. Be inspired by the resilience and creativity of one of the greatest entertainers of all time. 📚 Perfect for: Film enthusiasts and Chaplin admirers. Students and scholars of film history and silent cinema. Readers interested in biographies of cultural icons.
Proudly powered by WordPress |
Theme: Rits Blog by Crimson Themes.
Author: Peter M. Robinson
Author: Kliph Nesteroff
Author: James Feibleman
Author: Matthew C. Farmer
Author: Jeffrey Ross
Author: Kristine Brunovska Karnick
Author: William Smith
Author: Margo Daly
Author: Denis Gifford
Author: ChatStick Team