Physical comedy, such as falling, getting dirty, or performing stunts, has always been a popular form of entertainment. It can tell elaborate stories through body movement alone, as seen in the works of Buster Keaton, Charlie Chaplin, and Harold Lloyd. Modern comedians, such as John Ritter and Jim Carrey, also use physical comedy to enhance their acts. Clowns and mimes rely on physical and visual humor, while stand-up comedians occasionally use physical comedy to deliver jokes. Timing is crucial for physical comedians to achieve the desired effect.
Physical comedy is one of the oldest forms of humor in human culture. Watching another person fall, get dirty, get slapped, trip over obstacles or perform a stunt has always been a popular source of entertainment for audiences of all ages. Physical comedy often hinges on a sense of schadenfreude, the secret pleasure an audience member can derive from witnessing the actor’s real or imagined misfortune. A circus clown splashing seltzer water on his face or a comedian making a comically exaggerated entrance is using his physicality to sell the joke to the audience. Physical comedy is not necessarily a low-level form of entertainment, since many mimes and comic actors can tell elaborate stories through body movement alone.
One of the masters of physical comedy was silent film comedian Buster Keaton. Keaton’s films were often based on his willingness to put himself in risky situations for the sake of a visual joke. The sight of Keaton stoically riding on the pistons of a steam train, for example, amused audiences due to the sheer physicality of the act. Other silent film stars such as Charlie Chaplin and Harold Lloyd also used physical stunts and visual humor in their films. Charlie Chaplin’s character ‘The Tramp’ regularly lunged in front of a moving car or was hit by flying objects. Lloyd’s films showcased his ability to hang precariously from tall buildings or perform other seemingly impossible feats of strength.
Many modern comedians also use physical comedy in their act. The late John Ritter, for example, reportedly took at least one pratfall per episode of the sitcom Three’s Company. Some of the best situation comedy humor comes from bits of comedy such as a slow-burn reaction or comedic expressions of other emotions. The character Kramer on the sitcom Seinfeld became known for his exaggerated entrances and exits, along with his exaggerated physical movements while speaking his lines. Actor Jim Carrey has also become known for his ability to use physical comedy to enhance a comedy scene. The premise of many popular cartoons is based on a more physical type of comedy or sight gag, such as the endless cat-and-mouse chase between a coyote and a roadrunner or an actual cat-and-mouse team known as Tom and Jerry.
Clowns and mimes focus primarily on physical and visual humor due to their natural restrictions with dialogue. A mime or clown must use their physicality to stage a scene, reproduce it, and sell the punchline to the audience. Even stand-up comedians who use spoken dialogue must occasionally use physical types of comedy to enhance the delivery of the joke. A number of comedians, notably the late Lucille Ball and comedian Carol Burnett, can successfully combine verbal and physical comedy skills to entertain audiences. Physical comedians depend on the same sense of timing as other types of comedians to produce the desired results.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
