Farce
A comedy genre of implausible plots and physical humor.
Farce is a form of comedy that relies on amusing and highly implausible plots, stereotyped or exaggerated characters, physical humor, and misunderstandings to entertain an audience. It originated in masked improvised farces in Ancient Rome, rose in popularity from the late 13th century, and continues to this date in theatre, film, and television.
- origin
- Ancient Rome (masked improvised farces)
- field
- Comedy (theatre, film, television)
- key_features
- Bawdiness, absurdity, satire, parody, physical comedy, mistaken identities, dramatic irony
Lore & Background
The term farce is derived from the French word for 'stuffing', in reference to improvisations applied by actors to medieval religious dramas. They were subject to objections and suppression by the emperor Tiberius, who brought a motion against them. Farces rose dramatically in popularity in the late Middle Ages, with the majority of these plays coming from France and Germany, emphasizing sex and bodily excretions.
Reader's Guide
Farce can be seen as low comedy or even 'lower than comedy'. It uses bawdiness, absurdity, satire, parody, tongue-in-cheek humor, and physical comedy. Farces are typically written with a fast-paced plot, delivered with a manic energy and increasing speed towards its denouement. The dramatic roles may be made up of stereotypes, stock characters, or broad, larger-than-life characters, often calling for highly stylized performances and dramatic reactions. The action often portrays ludicrous scenarios, mistaken identities, and misunderstandings, frequently employing dramatic irony. Despite involving absurd situations, the genre generally maintains at least a slight degree of realism and narrative continuity within the context of the irrational or ridiculous situations. Farces have historically been performed for the stage and film, and can be improvised or scripted. Types of farce include backstage farces, tragic farces, and bedroom farces. Spoof films such as Spaceballs, a comedy based on the Star Wars movies, are farces.
Did You Know?
- The term 'farce' is derived from the French word for 'stuffing', referring to improvisations added to medieval religious dramas.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Farce as a narrative technique?
Farce is a comedic genre built on wildly improbable plots, exaggerated or stereotyped characters, and physical comedy meant to provoke laughter. It depends heavily on misunderstandings, mistaken identities, and bawdy humor rather than realistic logic.
What are the defining features of Farce?
Core hallmarks include absurdity, physical comedy, bawdiness, satire, parody, mistaken identities, and dramatic irony. Characters are deliberately over-the-top, and plots hinge on implausible chains of trickery and miscommunication.
In what mediums does Farce appear today?
Farce is a versatile comedic form that spans theatre, film, and television. It has remained a staple of performance since its Roman origins and continues to be a popular genre across all three mediums to this day.
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