What makes you laugh - and why? This course will explore the diverse types of humour and how jokes and funny moments are constructed. Each week a different aspect of humour will be analysed: ranging from the physicality of the silent slapstick clowns like Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton and Harold Lloyd, to how they were overtaken by verbal gagsters and wise-crackers, which led to the sassy battle of the sexes fround in screwball comedies. It will also explore the dynamics of comedy teams like Laurel and Hardy, Morecambe and Wise, and Monty Python and discover how comedy often encompasses surrealism and pushes the boundaries of bad taste. Switching to the smaller screen it will explore how sitcoms operate and how they have evolved over the past sixty years. Like all the best sitcoms, this course comes "with guaranteed hilarious results" and will also feature the punchline to the following joke: "How many WEA tutors does it take to change a lightbulb?"
Course aim
This informal and fun course explores the various types of comedy. It offers an insight into the inner workings of jokes, film comedy, sitcoms and stand-up without - hopefully - losing the ability to laugh!
Do I need any particular skills or experience?
- This course is for beginners
- This course is for improvers
- This course is for beginners and improvers
By the end of the course I should be able to:
- Define the different types of humour.
- Explain how jokes and moments of funny business are constructed.
- Identify the key figures in the history of film and television comedy.
- Determine the differences - and similarities - when creating comedy for film or television.
What else do I need to know?
Nothing is needed - just a willingness to laugh and comment on comedy! Watching any comedy on film or TV is a good start!
View full course information sheet
