COM FT 540: Notes for Thursday, June 12

Key points for this class
Comedy
Bank Dick
Priscilla
Repo Man

Comedy
We're now dealing with comedy. The clown is a critical figure with Native Americans -- upset order of things. The Plains Indians had the halico (sp?). Half his body would be decked out in war paint, etc. while the other half would be painted as a woman's would be. Calls values into question. Essence of comedy is response to change -- upsets existing values.

One of principal elements -- phallic character. Looks ridiculous. Most universally recognized. Comedy to love that undercuts passion, warmth -- ridiculous to relationship of sexes. Fine line divides tragedy and comedy. Love transforms perceptions of reality.

Love as commodity. Network -- no connection. Hospital -- impotence speech.

Black comedy -- take values, shove down society's throat. Harsh criticism. Network criticizes popular culture. Television-speak.

Black comedy -- never supposed to identify with anybody, so can see whole picture.

One of great comic devices -- take idea, play it out to its logical conclusion. Absurd. Swift's modest proposal.
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