Comedy (ENGL30051)

Undergraduate level 3Points: 12.5Not available in 2025

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Overview

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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: 14 March 2025

Eligibility and requirements

Prerequisites

None

Corequisites

None

Non-allowed subjects

None

Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)

The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.

Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home

Last updated: 14 March 2025

Assessment

DescriptionTimingPercentage

Mid-term Essay

  • 1500 words
Week 640%

Final Essay (or equivalent)

  • 2500 words
During the examination period50%

Participation

Throughout the semester10%
Hurdle requirement: Attendance hurdle requirement: This subject has a minimum requirement of 80% attendance at tutorials, seminars, or workshops. There is an expectation that students attend lectures.Throughout the semesterN/A
Hurdle requirement: Late Penalty and Assessment hurdle requirement: Assessment submitted late without an approved extension will be penalised at five per cent (5%) of the possible marks available for the assessment task per day or part thereof. All pieces of assessment must be submitted to pass the subject. Each submitted assessment must be complete, constitute a genuine attempt to address the requirements of the task and will not be accepted after 20 University business days from the original assessment due date without written approval. Throughout the semesterN/A

Last updated: 14 March 2025

Dates & times

Not available in 2025

What do these dates mean

Visit this webpage to find out about these key dates, including how they impact on:

  • Your tuition fees, academic transcript and statements.
  • And for Commonwealth Supported students, your:
       -  Student Learning Entitlement. This applies to all students enrolled in a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP).
     

    Subjects withdrawn after the census date (including up to the ‘last day to withdraw without fail’) count toward the Student Learning Entitlement.

Last updated: 14 March 2025

Further information

Last updated: 14 March 2025