Analyzing Literary Comedy: From Classical Greece to Modern Cinema

Why do we laugh at things that challenge the social order? Comedy is far more than simple entertainment; it is a powerful, transgressive force that has shaped political discourse and cultural norms for millennia. This text-based course guides you through the history of comedic expression, helping you decode the mechanics of humor from ancient theater to modern cinema. You will learn to analyze comedic structures, identify satire, and construct persuasive arguments about how humor reflects and rebels against society. What you'll learn: Understand the foundational theories of comedy and how humor functions as a social critique; Analyze classic comedic texts and screenplays from historical and modern eras; Identify key comedic devices such as irony, satire, farce, and the carnivalesque; Evaluate the political and transgressive implications of comedic narratives; Write clear, structured literary analyses and critical arguments about comedic works. The course begins with foundational definitions of comedy and historical theories of humor, then traces these concepts through chronological readings of drama, prose, and cinematic storytelling. This course is designed for beginners, literature enthusiasts, and aspiring writers, requiring no prior background in literary theory. Start exploring the rich, subversive world of comedic literature today.