The Cambridge Introduction to Comedy (Cambridge Introductions to Literature) 1st Edition by Eric Weitz (Author)
‘Laughter’, says Eric Weitz, ‘may be considered one of the most extravagant physical effects one person can have on another without touching them’. But how do we identify something which is meant to be comic, what defines something as ‘comedy’, and what does this mean for the way we enter the world of a comic text? Addressing these issues, and many more, this is a ‘how to’ guide to reading comedy from the pages of a dramatic text, with relevance to anything from novels and newspaper columns to billboards and emails. The book enables you to enhance your grasp of the comic through familiarity with characteristic structures and patterns, referring to comedy in literature, film and television throughout. Perfect for drama and literature students, this Introduction explores a genre which affects the everyday lives of us all, and will therefore also capture the interest of anyone who loves to laugh.
Editorial Reviews
Book Description
‘Laughter may be considered one of the most extravagant physical effects one person can have on another without touching them’. But how do we identify something as ‘comedy’, and how should we read comic texts? Addressing these issues, and many more, this Introduction enhances your grasp of this popular genre.
About the Author
Eric Weitz is Lecturer in Drama Studies at the School of Drama, Film and Music, Trinity College Dublin.
Product Details
Series: Cambridge Introductions to Literature
Paperback: 254 pages
Publisher: Cambridge University Press; 1 edition (April 27, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0521540267
ISBN-13: 978-0521540261
Product Dimensions: 6 x 0.5 x 9 inches
Shipping Weight: 15.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Helpful Overview
By Robert Jacklosky on May 3, 2015
Format: Paperback Verified Purchase
A very helpful overview of the historical origins of comedy. I used it in a college comic tradition course I teach, in combination with “Comedy: A Very Short Introduction” by Matthew Bevis” and Comedy (the New Critical Idiom) by Andrew Stott.
