A Cultural History of Comedy in the Age of Enlightenment

This volume highlights the variety of forms comedy took in England, with reference to developments in Europe, particularly France, during the European Enlightenment. It argues that comedy in this period is characterized by wit, satire, and humor, provoking both laughter and sympathetic tears. Comic expression in the Enlightenment reflects continuities and engagements with the comedy of previous eras; it is also noted for new forms and preoccupations engendered by the cultural, philosophical, and political concerns of the time, including democratizing revolutions, increasing secularization, and growing emphasis on individualism. Discussions emphasize the period''s stage comedy and acknowledge comic expression in various forms of print media including the emerging literary form we now know as the novel. Contributions from scholars reflect a wide variety of interests in the field of 18th-century studies, and the inclusion of a generous number of illustrations throughout demonstrates that the period''s visual culture was also an important part of the Enlightenment comic landscape. Each chapter takes a different theme as its focus: form, theory, praxis, identities, the body, politics and power, laughter and ethics. These eight different approaches to Enlightenment comedy add up to an extensive, synoptic coverage of the subject.>

Product details

• Authors: Elizabeth Kraft, Andrew McConnell Stott, Weitz
• Assisted by: Elizabeth Kraft (Editor), Kraft Elizabeth (Editor), Andrew McConnell Stott (Editor of the series), Eric Weitz (Editor of the series)
• Publisher: Bloomsbury Academic
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 04.04.2024
• EAN: 9781350440715
• ISBN: 978-1-350-44071-5
• No. of pages: 272
• Dimensions: 170 mm x 244 mm x 16 mm
• Series: The Cultural Histories Series
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > History > General, dictionaries; Modern history to 20th century: c 1700 to c 1900, Europe, HISTORY / Social History, Social & cultural history, PERFORMING ARTS / Theater / General, PERFORMING ARTS / Comedy, Theatre Studies, 18th century, c 1700 to c 1799, Performing arts: comedy, Social and cultural history, Comedy and stand-up, C 1700 To C 1800