Difference Between Farce and Comedy

Key Differences – Farce vs Comedy

Comedy is a dramatic work that makes people laugh. Some comedies aim only to create laughter whereas some aim to expose and criticize the vices and follies of the society while creating laughter.Farce is a type of comedy that is characterized by highly exaggerated and comic situations and crude and one-dimensional characterizations.It has no other aim than creating laughter. This is thekey differencebetween farce and comedy.

What is a Farce?

闹剧是一种低调的喜剧形式。它可以定义为使用丑角和马匹的漫画作品，通常包括粗糙的表征和可笑的情况。正如该定义所暗示的那样，闹剧涉及夸张而有趣的情况和一维角色。闹剧的情节通常可能包含许多曲折和随机事件，包括错误的身份和误解。这种喜剧依赖于故意的荒谬，身体幽默，笑话的笑话等来创造幽默。闹剧的主要目的是创造笑声和娱乐观众。

Farces can be created for both theater and cinema. Films like “Home alone”, “The Three Stooges”, “The Hangover” can be termed as farces. Farcical plays include William Shakespeare’s, “Comedy of Errors”, “Taming of the Shrew”, Joe Orton’s “What the Butler Saw”, Michael Frayn’s “Noises Off”, Marc Camoletti’s “Boeing-Boeing” are some examples of farcical plays.

What is a Comedy?

A comedy is a dramatic work that is light and often humorous and that usually contains a happy ending. A comedy is basically a dramatic work that makes its audience laugh. There are two basic types of comedy, which can be classified as high and low comedy.

High comedyis characterized by subtle characterization, witty dialog,irony and satire. It is sophisticated in nature and focuses on the inconsistencies and incongruities of human nature. The aim of this type of comedy is not just to entertain the audience; it also aims to act as a social criticism. Satire and comedy of manners are examples of high comedy. Literary work like Alexander Pope’s “The Rape of Lock,” Oscar Wilde’s “The Importance of being Earnest” and “Lady Windermere’s fan” are examples of high comedy.

Low comedyis characterized by humorous or farcical situations, absurdities, physical action, and often bawdy or vulgar jokes. It is not serious in nature and does not appeal to the intellect. This type of comedy only aims to entertain the audience; it has no higher purpose. Farce,parody, and burlesque are examples of low comedy.

What is the difference between Farce and Comedy?

Definition:

Farceis a lighthearted comedy typically including crude characterization and ludicrously improbable situations.

Comedyis a dramatic work that is light and often humorous and that usually contains a happy ending.

Type of Comedy:

Farceis a type of low comedy.

Comedycan be classified ashigh喜剧和喜剧片。

Aim:

Farceaims to make the audience laugh.

Comedymay expose vices and follies of the society while creating laughter.

Techniques:

Farceuses absurdities, vulgar jokes, physical actions to create laughter.

Comedycan use wit, satire, irony, as well as slapstick and farce to create laughter.

Image Courtesy:

“Audience enjoy Stallman’s jokes” By Wikimania2009 Damián Buonamico – originally posted to Flickr as Audience enjoy Stallman’s jokes(CC BY 3.0)viaCommon Wikimedia

“ShrewKatePetrucio” By Smatprt – Own work(CC BY-SA 3.0)viaCommons Wikimedia