The Comedy reference article from the English Wikipedia on 24-Apr-2004
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Comedy

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Comedy is the use of humor in the performing arts. It also means a performance that relies heavily on humor. The term originally comes from theater, where it simply referred to a play with a happy ending, in contrast to a tragedy. The humor, once an incidental device used to entertain, is now an essential aspect of a comedy.

Comedy has expanded from the stage into other mediums, such as television and film. A performance that consists exclusively of humor is called a comedy routine. People are divided about what is funny--some people prefer the slapstick approach, others prefer a gentler sort of humour. One interpretation of comedy is when things seem normal (in a joke for instance) and suddenly things get turned on their head.

See also