AustLit

The focus of this topic in 2010 is Screen Comedy. Students will become familiar with major theories of humour and significant styles of film and TV comedy. Slapstick, parody, satire, grossout humour, and black comedy are some styles we will explore, in work ranging from early physical comedies of Charlie Chaplin to Mel Brooks, Christopher Guest, Kath and Kim, the Chaser, and Summer Heights High. Throughout, we keep in mind the historical and cultural specificity of comedy. We study our distinctly “Australian” humour (cringe humour, the piss take). What does humour say about the country that produces it?

Syllabus (to include from among the following):

Physical comedy in early cinema

Parody and satire (Mel Brooks, Christopher Guest, The Chaser’s War on Everything, Borat)

Black comedy (Dr. Strangelove)

Contemporary Australian comedy (We Can Be Heroes: Finding the Australian of the Year, Kenny, Kath and Kim)