Slapstick Humor Definition

A pair of laths that produce a loud noise without causing injury.

Slapstick humor definition. The term arises from a device developed for use in the broad physical comedy style known as commedia dell arte in 16th century italy. A stick or lath used by comic performers or characters for striking other persons esp. Broad comedy characterized by violently boisterous action. As modifier slapstick humour.

A boisterous form of comedy marked by sight gags and absurd or violent mishaps or pranks such as slipping on a banana peel. The slapstick comic more than a mere funnyman or buffoon must often be an acrobat a stunt performer and something of a magician a master of uninhibited action and perfect timing. A paddle designed to produce a loud whacking sound formerly used by performers in farces. Comedy characterized by horseplay and physical action.

That s where the modern name for this comedic form came from. Slapstick may involve both intentional violence and violence by mishap often resulting from inept use of props such as saws and ladders. A flexible pair of paddles bound together at one end formerly used in pantomime to strike a blow to a person with a loud clapping sound but without injury. Slapstick is a style of humor involving exaggerated physical activity that exceeds the boundaries of normal physical comedy.

A device made of two flat pieces of wood fastened at one end so as to make a loud noise when used by an actor to strike a person. American heritage dictionary of the english language fifth edition. When the two boards hit they produced a slapping sound. Yourdictionary definition and usage example.

The slapstick was a two piece paddle that actors would use to accentuate the impact of a hit often on another actor s backside. An example of slapstick is comedy performed by the television characters called the three stooges where people get poked in the eye or pies in the face. Slapstick a type of physical comedy characterized by broad humour absurd situations and vigorous usually violent action. Noun slapstick is a kind of comedy based on practical jokes collisions clumsiness and embarrassing events.