Pages tagged “slapstick”

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Slapstick's Greatest Hits

A slapstick, in 16th-century commedia dell’arte, was comprised of two wooden slats that made a loud noise when struck against a player’s rear end,
 sounding much more painful than it actually was. Thus, a formula for the ages: A shot to the buttocks + startling noise = comic genius. From Shakespeare through Itchy and Scratchy, slapstick has delighted audiences. Why is it funny? 
Mel Brooks put it best: “Tragedy is when I cut my finger. Comedy is when you walk into an open sewer and die.” In other words, as long as it’s happening to someone else, bring on the...  read more