Slapstick is a style of humor involving exaggerated physical activity that exceeds the boundaries of normal physical comedy.[1] Slapstick may involve both intentional violence and violence by mishap, often resulting from inept use of props such as saws and ladders.[2][3]
A slapstick scene from the 1915 Charlie Chaplin film His New Job. Chaplin started his film career as a physical comedian, and his later work continued to contain elements of slapstick.
A slap stick
The term arises from a device developed for use in the broad, physical comedy style known as commedia dell'arte in 16th-century Italy. The "slap stick" consists of two thin slats of wood, which make a "slap" when striking another actor, with little force needed to make a loud—and comical—sound. The physical slap stick remains a key component of the plot in the traditional and popular Punch and Judy puppet show. Other examples of slapstick humor include The Naked Gun and Mr. Bean.
The name "slapstick" originates from the Italian Batacchio or Bataccio – called the "slap stick" in English – a club-like object composed of two wooden slats used in commedia dell'arte. When struck, the Batacchio produces a loud smacking noise, though it is only a little force that is transferred from the object to the person being struck. Actors may thus hit one another repeatedly with great audible effect while causing no damage and only very minor, if any, pain. Along with the inflatable bladder (of which the whoopee cushion is a modern variant), it was among the earliest special effects.
Early uses
Advertisement for Punch and Judy showing Punch with his slapstick (1910)
Slapstick comedy's history is measured in centuries. Shakespeare incorporated many chase scenes and beatings into his comedies, such as in his play The Comedy of Errors.
In early 19th-century England, pantomime acquired its present form which includes slapstick comedy: its most famous performer, Joseph Grimaldi—the father of modern clowning—would partake in slapstick, with the Smithsonian stating he "fought himself in hilarious fisticuffs that had audiences rolling in the aisles".[4] Comedy routines also featured heavily in British music hall theatre which became popular in the 1850s.[5][6]
In Punch and Judy shows, which first appeared in England on 9 May 1662, a large slapstick is wielded by Punch against the other characters.[7]
Fred Karno
Fred Karno, music hall impresario and pioneer of slapstick comedy
British comedians who honed their skills at pantomime and music hall sketches include Charlie Chaplin, Stan Laurel, George Formby, and Dan Leno.[8][9] The influential English music hall comedian and theatre impresario Fred Karno developed a form of sketch comedy without dialogue in the 1890s, and Chaplin and Laurel were among the young comedians who worked for him as part of "Fred Karno's Army".[8] Chaplin's fifteen-year music hall career inspired the comedy in all his later film work, especially as pantomimicry.[10] In a biography of Karno, Laurel stated: "Fred Karno didn't teach Charlie [Chaplin] and me all we know about comedy. He just taught us most of it".[11] American film producer Hal Roach described Karno as "not only a genius, he is the man who originated slapstick comedy. We in Hollywood owe much to him."[12]
The slapstick, so long indispensable to low comedy, found a new use among the crowds . . . they used the slapstick to the extreme embarrassment of many women. The carnival spirit, for the most part tempered by high good humor, at times verged on rowdyism. Girls used a stick ripped with feathers to tickle the faces of young men, and they retaliated vigorously with the slapstick.
An editorial in the Asbury Park Press, New Jersey, said in 1914:[15]
Slapsticks are the latest "fun-making" fad for masque fetes. . . . Orders to stop the slapstick nuisance should be issued by the police and the Asbury Park carnival commissioners. Any device that cannot be operated or used without inflicting unmerited pain and injury should be excluded . . . .
Harisen, a paper fan used by the Japanese for a similar purpose.
References
^"slapstick - definition of slapstick by the Free Online Dictionary, Thesaurus and Encyclopedia". Thefreedictionary.com. Retrieved 2013-04-29.
^King, Rob (2017). Hokum!: The Early Sound Slapstick Short and Depression-Era Mass Culture. Oakland, California: University of California Press. p. 197.
^"Slapstick comedy definition of Slapstick comedy in the Free Online Encyclopedia". Encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com. Retrieved 2013-04-29.
^"The History and Psychology of Clowns Being Scary". Smithsonian. Retrieved 2 March 2022.
^David Christopher (2002). British Culture: An Introduction. p. 74. Routledge,
^Jeffrey Richards (2014). The Golden Age of Pantomime: Slapstick, Spectacle and Subversion in Victorian England. I.B.Tauris,
The dictionary definition of slapstick at Wiktionary
April 07, 2023
slapstick, this, article, about, style, comedy, other, uses, disambiguation, style, humor, involving, exaggerated, physical, activity, that, exceeds, boundaries, normal, physical, comedy, involve, both, intentional, violence, violence, mishap, often, resulting. This article is about the style of comedy For other uses see Slapstick disambiguation Slapstick is a style of humor involving exaggerated physical activity that exceeds the boundaries of normal physical comedy 1 Slapstick may involve both intentional violence and violence by mishap often resulting from inept use of props such as saws and ladders 2 3 A slapstick scene from the 1915 Charlie Chaplin film His New Job Chaplin started his film career as a physical comedian and his later work continued to contain elements of slapstick A slap stick The term arises from a device developed for use in the broad physical comedy style known as commedia dell arte in 16th century Italy The slap stick consists of two thin slats of wood which make a slap when striking another actor with little force needed to make a loud and comical sound The physical slap stick remains a key component of the plot in the traditional and popular Punch and Judy puppet show Other examples of slapstick humor include The Naked Gun and Mr Bean Contents 1 Origins 2 Early uses 3 Fred Karno 4 In film and television 5 20th century fad 6 See also 7 References 8 External linksOrigins EditThe name slapstick originates from the Italian Batacchio or Bataccio called the slap stick in English a club like object composed of two wooden slats used in commedia dell arte When struck the Batacchio produces a loud smacking noise though it is only a little force that is transferred from the object to the person being struck Actors may thus hit one another repeatedly with great audible effect while causing no damage and only very minor if any pain Along with the inflatable bladder of which the whoopee cushion is a modern variant it was among the earliest special effects Early uses Edit Advertisement for Punch and Judy showing Punch with his slapstick 1910 Slapstick comedy s history is measured in centuries Shakespeare incorporated many chase scenes and beatings into his comedies such as in his play The Comedy of Errors In early 19th century England pantomime acquired its present form which includes slapstick comedy its most famous performer Joseph Grimaldi the father of modern clowning would partake in slapstick with the Smithsonian stating he fought himself in hilarious fisticuffs that had audiences rolling in the aisles 4 Comedy routines also featured heavily in British music hall theatre which became popular in the 1850s 5 6 In Punch and Judy shows which first appeared in England on 9 May 1662 a large slapstick is wielded by Punch against the other characters 7 Fred Karno Edit Fred Karno music hall impresario and pioneer of slapstick comedy British comedians who honed their skills at pantomime and music hall sketches include Charlie Chaplin Stan Laurel George Formby and Dan Leno 8 9 The influential English music hall comedian and theatre impresario Fred Karno developed a form of sketch comedy without dialogue in the 1890s and Chaplin and Laurel were among the young comedians who worked for him as part of Fred Karno s Army 8 Chaplin s fifteen year music hall career inspired the comedy in all his later film work especially as pantomimicry 10 In a biography of Karno Laurel stated Fred Karno didn t teach Charlie Chaplin and me all we know about comedy He just taught us most of it 11 American film producer Hal Roach described Karno as not only a genius he is the man who originated slapstick comedy We in Hollywood owe much to him 12 In film and television EditBuilding on its later popularity in the 19th and early 20th century ethnic routines of the American vaudeville house the style was explored extensively during the golden era of black and white movies directed by Mack Sennett and Hal Roach that featured such notables as Charlie Chaplin Mabel Normand Laurel and Hardy Abbott and Costello and Three Stooges Silent slapstick comedy was also popular in early French films and included films by Max Linder Charles Prince and Sarah Duhamel 13 Slapstick also became a common element in animated cartoons starting in the 1930 examples include Disney s Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck shorts Walter Lantz s Woody Woodpecker and The Beary Family MGM s Tom and Jerry the unrelated Tom and Jerry cartoons of Van Beuren Studios Warner Bros Looney Tunes Merrie Melodies MGM s Barney Bear and Tex Avery s Screwy Squirrel Slapstick was later used in Japanese Tokusatsu TV Kamen Rider Drive by Benny Hill in The Benny Hill Show in the UK and in the US used in the three 1960s TV series Gilligan s Island Batman The Flying Nun and I Love Lucy 20th century fad EditUse of the slapstick in public places was a fad in the early 20th century During the 1911 Veiled Prophet Parade in St Louis according to the St Louis Post Dispatch 14 The slapstick so long indispensable to low comedy found a new use among the crowds they used the slapstick to the extreme embarrassment of many women The carnival spirit for the most part tempered by high good humor at times verged on rowdyism Girls used a stick ripped with feathers to tickle the faces of young men and they retaliated vigorously with the slapstick An editorial in the Asbury Park Press New Jersey said in 1914 15 Slapsticks are the latest fun making fad for masque fetes Orders to stop the slapstick nuisance should be issued by the police and the Asbury Park carnival commissioners Any device that cannot be operated or used without inflicting unmerited pain and injury should be excluded See also Edit Comedy portalList of slapstick comedy topics Slapstick film Cartoon violence Stage combat Schadenfreude Harisen a paper fan used by the Japanese for a similar purpose References Edit slapstick definition of slapstick by the Free Online Dictionary Thesaurus and Encyclopedia Thefreedictionary com Retrieved 2013 04 29 King Rob 2017 Hokum The Early Sound Slapstick Short and Depression Era Mass Culture Oakland California University of California Press p 197 Slapstick comedy definition of Slapstick comedy in the Free Online Encyclopedia Encyclopedia2 thefreedictionary com Retrieved 2013 04 29 The History and Psychology of Clowns Being Scary Smithsonian Retrieved 2 March 2022 David Christopher 2002 British Culture An Introduction p 74 Routledge Jeffrey Richards 2014 The Golden Age of Pantomime Slapstick Spectacle and Subversion in Victorian England I B Tauris Miller Judith 2017 Miller s Antiques Handbook amp Price Guide 2018 2019 Hachette UK p 351 a b McCabe John Comedy World of Stan Laurel p 143 London Robson Books 2005 First edition 1975 Enjoy Cumbria Stan Laurel BBC Retrieved 2 January 2015 St Pierre Paul 2009 Music Hall Mimesis in British Film 1895 1960 On the Halls on the Screen Associated University Press p 38 Burton Alan 2000 Pimple pranks amp pratfalls British film comedy before 1930 Flicks Books p 51 J P Gallagher 1971 Fred Karno master of mirth and tears p 165 Hale Maggie Hennefeld Specters of Slapstick and Silent Film Comediennes Columbia UP 2018 1 Marguerite Martyn Great Crowds Lined Streets to See Pageant and Make Merry October 4 1911 image 11 No headline July 20 1914 column 2External links Edit The dictionary definition of slapstick at Wiktionary Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Slapstick amp oldid 1147804302, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
