This module gives you the opportunity to explore the rich, imaginative, and creative world of comedy for different media platforms. Comedy output has a long and distinctive history, and still maintains an interest and popularity with audiences seeking humour-led storytelling content.



The module will introduce you to some of the different performances, texts and production contexts which have contributed to shaping comedy film, broadcasting, and live entertainments. It will give you the opportunity to think about key concepts, themes, formats, and ideas that have helped to shape comedy material and how different audiences have engaged with different types of entertainment both within and outside the genre. The module will examine some of the forms of stand-up, sketch shows, sitcoms and screwballs, with examples covering the absurd and surreal, the parody, the spoof, the slapstick and the satirical.

There will also be an exploration surrounding the social function of comedy and how the genre can explore complex and problematic themes within society, such as gender and sexuality and race and ethnicity.

All individually marked.

ASSESSMENT 1: A CASE STUDY PORTFOLIO a negotiated portfolio, which may consist of research elements, scripted comedy materials, a performance/presentation or other production artefacts to explore comedy development and practical application for an intended audience. Typically containing 2000 words or 20-minute presentation and 10-minute discussion with supporting evidence notes. [LO 1, 2]

ASSESSMENT 2: A CRITICAL EVALUATION REPORT which reflects and evaluates the Case Study Portfolio elements, drawing upon a critical analysis of a comedy text and appropriate theories. 1500 words written report. [LO 3, 4]

The module adopts a facilitated learning approach, with opportunities for you to discuss and develop your understanding of the key comedy concepts, histories, and theories through an active approach to bring ideas and reflective practice to your own work. The delivery sessions will enable you to consider different examples, apply your knowledge, analysis, and evaluative practices through different activities such as workshops, student centred learning, directed and independent study.

1. Demonstrate a detailed and sophisticated understanding of how comedy outputs are structured for different media and creative platforms.

2. Apply your understanding of the conventions of comedy to a production output, using an appropriate professional format.

3. Analyse comedy texts in relation to debates on key theories, styles, methods, and approaches.

4. Evaluate critically your own creative comedy work in a reflexive manner, with reference to academic and professional issues, debates, and conventions.

Library, and online resources (including Box of Broadcasts), Blu-Ray/DVD/Audio/IT playback facilities.

Mixed-mode teaching space

VLE

Double, O. (2012) Britain Had Talent, London: Palgrave Macmillan.

Double, O. (2014) Getting the Joke, London: Bloomsbury.

Hunter, I. Q. & Porter, L. (2012) British Comedy Cinema, London: Routledge.

May, S. (2016) A Philosophy of Comedy on Stage and Screen, London: Bloomsbury Methuen Drama.

Medhurst, A. (2007) A National Joke, London: Routledge.

Mundy, J. and White, G. (2013) Laughing Matters: Understanding Film, Television and Radio Comedy, Manchester: Manchester University Press.

Peacock, L. (2014) Slapstick and Comic Performance, Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.

Roof, J. (2019) The Comic Event, London: Bloomsbury.


See module handbook for a full listing of reading texts.

Comedy is an enormous part of storytelling and humour allows us to respond in different ways. How is comedy made and consumed across different platforms and genres? We will look at stand-up, sketch shows, sitcoms and screwballs, with examples covering the absurd and surreal, the parody, the spoof, the slapstick and the satirical. You will have an opportunity to analyse and evaluate different types of comedy material in relation to your own creative comedy writing, performing, or presenting practices.