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Comedy (ENGL30051)
Undergraduate level 3Points: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
Overview
Availability | Semester 1 |
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Fees | Look up fees |
From ancient Greece to twenty-first century Melbourne, comedy has a long history as popular entertainment and social commentary. This subject will explore historical and contemporary examples and theories of comedy that raise important questions: how does comedy create and release tension to make us laugh? How does it reflect different tastes, identities, and contexts? How do comic texts and performances challenge our expectations as audience members and our methods as scholars? Students will critically examine assigned readings and performances on comic genres and styles such as satire, parody, camp, drag, variety, minstrelsy, culturally specific humour, stand-up, deadpan, and self-deprecation. As part of this subject students will engage with a local performance such as a show at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival.
Intended learning outcomes
On completion of this subject, students should be able to:
- Analyse and evaluate historical and contemporary comedy texts and performances
- Communicate knowledge and ideas about comedy to others
- Apply research skills that demonstrate self-directed learning
- Explain and critique theories of comedy.
Generic skills
At the completion of this subject, students should gain the following generic skills:
- Apply analytic and research skills to texts and performances
- Communicate arguments and ideas effectively and articulately, both in writing and to others
- Plan and develop their own work
Last updated: 2 November 2024