Comedy has long been an essential part of storytelling and entertainment. But where did this art form come from? From the ancient Egyptians, surprisingly!
While it may seem like a modern-day phenomenon, the origin of comedy can be traced back to the Egyptians, who used it as a form of social commentary and as a way to explore topics such as sexuality and gender roles. Sexual humor was also present in many of their stories, which helped pave the way for modern comedy.In this blog post, we’ll look at how the ancient Egyptians laid the groundwork for today’s comedic performances, and discuss why their influence is still relevant today.
The Ancient Egyptians Were The First To Tell Jokes
According to the Smithsonian Magazine, the ancient Egyptians were the first to tell jokes. To explain why, they consulted a London Egyptologist who said that “jokes often have to do with human nature, the foibles and follies of our own behavior and society, and these things transcend time.” This meant that the Egyptians could find humor in everyday life and used it to entertain each other.
The oldest recorded joke is from a papyrus roll inscribed in 2600 BC and reads: “How do you entertain a bored pharaoh? You sail a boatload of young women dressed only in fishing nets down the Nile and urge the pharaoh to go catch a fish.” The joke is included within a political treatise, but the humorous performance within the narrative was a new and popular genre.
The Egyptians used jokes to comment on their society and even included sexual humor in their comedy routines. They paved the way for what would become a long history of comedic expression, from ancient Greece to modern stand-up comedy.
The First Recorded Joke Dates Back To 1900 BC
Comedy has been around for as long as human nature has existed. The first recorded joke dates to 1900 BC and was told by the Sumerians: “Something which has never occurred since time immemorial; a young woman did not fart in her husband’s lap.” While this may not seem like the most sophisticated or nuanced joke, it was still the beginning of a popular genre that would evolve over the centuries.
The origins of comedy are often rooted in tragic events, as people sought to find some relief or escape the hardships of their lives. In ancient Greece, comedy originated as a humorous performance that offered a contrast to the more serious and somber tragedies. The Greek comedy often involved a comic hero, in contrast to the tragic hero of the tragic plays. These early comedies would also sometimes involve sexual humor and political satire.
Over time, comedy evolved to include different types of comedy routines. Medieval European comedy was often focused on religion, while Shakespeare was one of the first to use humor in his plays. The 18th century saw the rise of vaudeville, a type of physical comedy that involved humorous skits and slapstick routines.
The early 20th century gave birth to slapstick comedy, which involved exaggerated physical humor and often ended with a happy ending. This type of comedy was particularly popular in the silent film era, with stars like Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton making audiences laugh with their hilarious physical comedy.
As time went on, comedy continued to evolve. The late 20th century saw the rise of stand-up comedy, with comedians like George Carlin, Richard Pryor, and Eddie Murphy pushing the boundaries of what was acceptable to talk about on stage. Today, sketch comedy has seen a resurgence in popularity, with shows like Saturday Night Live and Key and Peele offering audiences a mix of satire, dark humor, and even romantic comedy.
From the Sumerians to modern day, comedy has come a long way. But no matter the era or type of comedy, it always remains a reflection of our shared human experience, finding humor in even the darkest of situations.
The Ancient Greeks Were The First To Use Humor In Their Theater
Greek comedy was a popular genre of theater that was performed across ancient Greece from the 6th century BCE. The most famous playwrights of the genre were Aristophanes and Menander. The plays were not only entertaining but also provided an insight into the Greek society and revealed the identity of the audience.Greek comedy and tragedy form the foundation of modern theater. The origins of Greek comedy plays can be traced back to various sources including pottery decoration, poems of Archilochus and Hipponax, and phallic songs sung during Dionysiac festivals. These sources laid the groundwork for humorous performances that involved sexual humor and satirical comedy.
In Greek comedy, the comic hero was a character who was inferior to the audience in terms of social standing or intelligence, making them relatable. The plays involved both physical comedy and dark humor, but always ended with a happy ending. This contrasted with Greek tragedy, where the tragic hero was a noble character brought down by tragic events.
Overall, Greek comedy was a significant and influential genre of theater. Its themes and techniques still have an impact on modern theater, including the use of romantic comedy, slapstick comedy, and political satire. As the first to use humor in their theater, the ancient Greeks paved the way for the many forms of comedy that followed.
Roman Comedy Was Heavily Influenced By The Greeks
Greek drama heavily influenced Roman theater, but the Romans focused more on comedy than the Greeks. The Old Comedy of the Greeks was adapted to meet Roman tastes, resulting in a New Comedy that was based on romantic and domestic situations. This popular genre of comedy had a significant reverse influence on Greek New Comedy as well.
Humorous performances, humorous performances that involved sexual humor and happy endings marked roman comedy. unlike Greek comedy, which often featured tragic events and a tragic hero, marked Roman involved sexual humor and happy endings, unlike Greek comedy, which often featured tragic events and a tragic hero. The Roman comic hero was usually an ordinary person dealing with everyday problems, reflecting human nature and the struggles of the lower classes.
The Romans also used physical comedy and slapstick humor in their performances, making the audience laugh with humorous routines and dark humor. However, Roman comedy was not all about fun and games; it also had a satirical element, poking fun at the upper classes and political satire.
The romantic comedy was one of the most popular sub-genres of Roman comedy, reflecting the ideals of love and marriage. These comedic plays often ended with a happy ending, with the couple overcoming obstacles to be together. This form of comedy laid the foundation for future romantic comedies in theater and film.
Overall, Roman comedy played a significant role in the origin of comedy as we know it today. It blended elements of ancient Greece and its own unique spin to create a popular form of entertainment that continues to influence modern comedy. From slapstick to stand-up, the legacy of Roman comedy lives on.
Medieval European Comedy Was Mostly Focused On Religion
During the medieval era, comedy was a popular genre that was performed in public spaces by ordinary people. These plays portrayed scenes from the Bible and conveyed religious doctrine to the audience. The purpose of these performances was to encourage their viewers to lead Christian lives and avoid sin. The medieval drama was a contrast to modern theater, where performances were usually held in a fixed location, with trained actors and often dealt with more secular subjects.
One unique aspect of medieval comedy was that it was a mobile theater, with actors from daily life, and a focus on Christianity and the history of salvation. The religious drama of towns such as York, Chester, Coventry, and Wakefield, known as the ‘mystery plays,’ would involve various trades and guilds coming together to perform episodes from the Bible.
The comedy of this era was quite different from the comedy we see today, with no sexual humor or comedic routines as we know them. The focus was on conveying moral messages and entertaining audiences with humorous performances that centered on tragic events with happy endings.
Medieval comedy was far removed from the comedic traditions of ancient Greece, which centered on dark humor and physical comedy. In Greek comedy, a comic hero would triumph over a tragic hero, and the audience would be left with a sense of release from their emotions.
The era of medieval European comedy paved the way for modern comedy, with Shakespeare being one of the first playwrights to use humor in his plays. Today, there are numerous genres of comedy, including slapstick comedy, political satire, satirical comedy, romantic comedy, and stand-up comedy. But the roots of comedy originated from a very different place – the religious drama of medieval Europe.
Shakespeare Was One Of The First To Use Humor In His Plays
While Shakespeare was known for his tragedies, he was also a master of comedy. One of his earliest plays, The Comedy of Errors, is full of puns, wordplay, misunderstandings, and mistaken identities. In this play, Shakespeare used clowns, such as Dromio and Antipholus, to bring physical comedy to the stage.
Slapstick comedy was popular in Italian commedia dell’arte, but Shakespeare’s use of it was innovative and exciting. His plays often involved sexual humor, which was a common theme in comedic works of the time. But he didn’t stop there, as Shakespeare also incorporated political satire into his plays.
In their works, Shakespeare explored human nature and the absurdity of tragic events. His comedic plays often featured a happy ending, which was a stark contrast to the tragic hero of his tragedies. In fact, he often created comic heroes, who were flawed but endearing, as opposed to the tragic heroes of his tragedies.
Shakespeare’s contribution to the popular genre of romantic comedy cannot be overlooked. His plays like A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Much Ado About Nothing continue to be popular to this day. Shakespeare’s ability to combine different elements of comedy, including dark humor and satirical comedy, was unprecedented.
Shakespeare paved the way for many different forms of comedy routines and humorous performances that we see today, from physical comedy to stand-up comedy. He truly was a master of every genre, including comedy, and his influence can still be seen in comedy today.
The 18th Century Saw The Rise Of Vaudeville Vaudeville was a popular genre of humorous performance that emerged in the United States in the mid-1890s and lasted until the early 1930s. The term is derived from a corruption of “Vaux-de-vire”, which were satirical songs in couplets sung to popular airs in the 15th century in Normandy, France.
Initially, vaudeville was a form of light musical drama with spoken dialog interspersed with songs. It later evolved to include comedy routines, physical comedy, and even involve sexual humor. Vaudeville was encouraged in frontier settlements and urban centers in the United States in the 1850s and 1860s, and it became an important form of entertainment during the Great Depression.
The rise of vaudeville in the 18th century can be attributed to changing attitudes towards comedy. In earlier times, comedy originated in ancient Greece and was often associated with satirical comedy and tragic events. Greek comedy was based on the premise of a comic hero versus a tragic hero, and it was often accompanied by music and dance. Later, Shakespeare was one of the first to use humor in his plays, with romantic comedy and slapstick comedy becoming popular during the Renaissance period.
However, the 18th century saw the rise of vaudeville, which became the precursor to modern-day stand-up comedy. Vaudeville was a lighthearted form of entertainment that aimed to provide a happy ending to the audience. It also introduced new elements like physical comedy and political satire, which were not commonly found in previous comedic works. Overall, vaudeville played an important role in shaping the direction of comedy and paved the way for the emergence of new comedic genres in the 20th and 21st centuries.
The Early 20th Century Gave Birth To Slapstick Comedy
Slapstick comedy is a popular genre that has been used in movies, television shows, and theater performances. It involves physical comedy, and sometimes even involves sexual humor. Slapstick is both a genre and an element in other comedies, but where did it all begin?
The origins of slapstick comedy can be traced back to the comic routines of Italian commedia dell’arte, which was a form of humorous performance that involved stock characters and improvisation. The commedia dell’arte characters used exaggerated movements and physical humor to entertain their audiences.
However, it wasn’t until the early 20th century that slapstick comedy became a popular genre in its own right. Mack Sennett, also known as the father of slapstick comedy, was a producer and director who popularized this form of humor. His films often involved physical comedy and stunts, which would leave his audiences in stitches.
Slapstick comedy was often used to create happy endings out of tragic events. This is because, as human nature dictates, we find it much easier to laugh in the face of tragedy than to cry. This kind of dark humor has been present throughout the origins of comedy, from ancient Greece to the present day.
Slapstick comedy is a versatile genre that has taken many forms throughout history, from tragic heroes to comic heroes. It can be seen in romantic comedies, satirical comedies, and even political satire. Despite its use of physical comedy, it can also involve sexual humor. Regardless of its form, slapstick comedy has been entertaining audiences for centuries and will continue to do so in the future.
The Late 20th Century Saw The Rise Of Stand-Up Comedy
Stand-up comedy rose to prominence in the late 20th century and has since become a popular genre in many countries. In this type of humorous performance, a single person, known as the stand-up comedian, delivers a series of comedy routines to a live audience. The themes of stand-up comedy can range from the origins of comedy to human nature and even tragic events.
Stand-up comedy has evolved over the years and is now available on the internet in the form of videos and podcasts. Additionally, it is still popular in the form of live shows. One of the appealing aspects of stand-up comedy is that it involves sexual humor and dark comedy, allowing audiences to laugh at situations that might not typically elicit laughter.
Although stand-up comedy as we know it today is relatively new, the art of comedy originated centuries ago. Ancient Greece had its own form of comedy called Greek comedy, which included satirical comedy, romantic comedy, and even slapstick comedy. The ancient Greeks even had their own version of a tragic hero, known as the comic hero. This tradition influenced Roman comedy, and eventually medieval European comedy.
It wasn’t until the late 20th century, however, that stand-up comedy really took off. This type of comedy allowed comedians to express their personal perspectives on current events, politics, and everyday life. Stand-up comedy continues to evolve and thrive in the 21st century, as comedians adapt to changing tastes and trends in comedy. With its roots firmly planted in ancient Egypt, stand-up comedy continues to be a popular and ever-evolving art form enjoyed by millions around the world.
The 21st Century Has Seen A Resurgence In Sketch Comedy
Classic sketch shows like The Kids in the Hall and Saturday Night Live are making a comeback, proving that sketch comedy is still a popular genre. According to late-night TV expert Bill Carter, “It still gets tremendous buzz. And people still watch it live.”
Social media has provided an excellent platform for emerging sketch comics to showcase their humorous performances. Sketch shows have always been a great way to deal with tragic events through comedy, and social media allows us to process them collectively. Sketch comedy has always been around, ever since comedy originated in ancient Greece. Greeks were the first to use humor in their theater, with the famous comic hero who overcame obstacles to achieve a happy ending. The ancient Greeks also introduced satirical comedy, political satire, and dark humor.
Streaming services have also given sketch shows the chance to push boundaries. Netflix, for example, has aired many sketch comedy shows in the past two or three years, allowing us to enjoy various comedic genres, including romantic comedy and dark comedy. Sketch shows have also allowed comics to involve sexual humor, physical comedy, and slapstick comedy, making it an ideal platform for emerging comedic talents to test the limits of human nature.
The popularity of sketch comedy in the 21st century proves that it remains a crucial aspect of the comedy world. Sketch routines can take various forms, from humorous performances to satirical criticism of societal norms. They are an excellent way to break up the monotony of daily life and find humor in the world around us. The resurgence of sketch comedy is a welcome return to its origins in ancient Greece and its evolution over the centuries, and its continued popularity proves that it is here to stay.
Final Thoughts
Looking back on the history of comedy, it’s fascinating to see how humor has evolved and adapted throughout the ages. From the ancient Egyptians’ witty puns to the slapstick comedy of the early 1900s, it’s clear that people have always enjoyed a good laugh.
Today, comedy has become a staple of entertainment. We see it on television, in movies, and on the internet. There are countless comedians who are making audiences laugh around the world.If you’re a fan of comedy, make sure to explore its rich history. Check out classic films, attend comedy shows, and support up-and-coming comedians. Have a complete experience by buying tickets available on the website.
