Comedy has a classical meaning (comical theatre) and a popular one (the use of humor with an intent to provoke laughter in general). In the theater, its Western origins are in ancient Greece, like tragedy, a genre characterised by a grave fall from grace by a protagonist having high social standing. Comedy, in contrast, portrays a conflict or agon between a young hero and an older authority, a confrontation described by Northrop Frye as a struggle between a "society of youth" and a "society of the old".

Humor being subjective, one may or may not find something humorous because it is either too offensive or not offensive enough. Comedy is judged according to a person’s taste. Some enjoy cerebral fare such as irony or black comedy; others may prefer scatological humor (e.g. the "fart joke") or slapstick. A common gender stereotype that plays on this convention is that men love the comedy of The Three Stooges, while women do not.

Mel Brooks on comedy and tragedy: "Tragedy is when I cut my finger. Comedy is when you fall down an elevator shaft and die."

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I just submitted Transylvania Television for Best Comedy Web Series in the @StreamyAwards http://streamys.org
spcglider (Gordon Smuder) Tue, 29 Dec 2009 16:13:19 -0000
I just submitted Transylvania Television for Best Comedy Web Series in the @StreamyAwards http://streamys.org
is doing their improv-thing tonight at The Comedy Bar at 8pm... IN 3-D!!!!!!! http://fb.me/3XG1eG1
ChrisBesler (Chris Besler) Tue, 29 Dec 2009 16:13:00 -0000
is doing their improv-thing tonight at The Comedy Bar at 8pm... IN 3-D!!!!!!! http://fb.me/3XG1eG1
RT @classicotr: Jack Benny-Jack Buys A Wallet For Don http://bit.ly/705Hnp #humor #comedy http://brandoclassicotr.com
blamping (Blamping Bot) Tue, 29 Dec 2009 16:12:31 -0000
RT @classicotr: Jack Benny-Jack Buys A Wallet For Don http://bit.ly/705Hnp #humor #comedy http://brandoclassicotr.com
@elegantmachines @timmayd - I just think there are more groundbreaking, innovative people in entertainment/comedy than her. Colbert perhaps?
gracerodriguez (Grace Rodriguez) Tue, 29 Dec 2009 16:12:15 -0000
@elegantmachines @timmayd - I just think there are more groundbreaking, innovative people in entertainment/comedy than her. Colbert perhaps?
Frog and bucket 8th jan...come along for a night of comedy!0844 847 1664
kinggeorgeshall (king georges hall ) Tue, 29 Dec 2009 16:12:05 -0000
Frog and bucket 8th jan...come along for a night of comedy!0844 847 1664
I'm in film geeky heaven, I just found a complete Ealing Comedy DVD set and a copy of The Man Who Came to Dinner that I'd forgotten about!
doodledawne (Dawne) Tue, 29 Dec 2009 16:11:53 -0000
I'm in film geeky heaven, I just found a complete Ealing Comedy DVD set and a copy of The Man Who Came to Dinner that I'd forgotten about!

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