High comedy

Article summary

, a satirical painting by William Hogarth. High comedy is a term used to refer to a comedy that is marked by intelligence or sophistication. Such a comedy may include witty dialogue, satire, wordplay, psychologically realistic characterisation, intricate plotting, social commentary, or intellectual themes. A high comedy will typically feature characters from higher social classes. A naturalistic performance style can also be indicative of high comedy. High comedy will be relatively subtle, and may reference things external to the text, requiring the audience to have a level of sophistication to discern the humorous elements. Those who enjoy high comedies are more likely to be more highly educated and more aware themselves of the distinction between high and low comedy. The less-educated may not recognise the subtleties in a work of high comedy. The term is the opposite of low comedy, which may feature bawdiness, buffoonery or slapstick, performed in a broad style. There is no clear distinction between works of high and low comedy, and the terms can sometimes be used in a subjective manner. A single work may include elements characteristic of both high comedy and low comedy, and not strictly fit either category. A high comedy may incorporate low-comedy elements in an ironic or satirical manner, thereby demonstrating sophistication in the use of elements that are low-comedy.…

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