Episode 12: Celluloid Dreams Film School Part 8: Comedy & Musical Narrative Structure & Tropes

Matt & Mike discuss the elements of comedy and musical films, including tropes used in those types of narratives as well as subversions of those tropes.Topics include the following for comedy:*Standard elements of a comedy include humorous situations typically established by either exaggerating a situation or character qualities depicted in the narrative.*Some character archetypes in comedies include tricksters, lovable losers, the straight man, the man-child, deadpan eccentrics, fish out of water and the everyman.*Common comedy narrative tropes include misunderstandings between characters that cause conflict, a lovable loser that ends up a winner, odd couples with opposite qualities, physical humor, and one-liners.*This episode addresses the romantic comedy and screwball comedy in detail, with other genres to be discussed in the next episode.*Romantic comedy tropes include either enemies to friends or meet cute introduction of characters, opposites attract, a makeover scene, and a final grand gesture to support a love conquers all theme.*Screwball films include many of the same tropes as standard romantic comedies, but typically also include rapid fire dialogue. At times, screwball plotlines explore the remarriage trope as opposed to the initial phase of a relationship that is standard in the modern rom-com.*Notable subversions of the romantic comedy include Annie Hall, (500) Days of Summer, Anora and Jerry Maguire.*Notable subversions of the screwball comedy include Arsenic and Old Lace, Raising Arizona, and War of the Roses.Topics include the following for musicals:*Musicals often use frame stories or fantasy/dream sequences to justify breaking into song within the narrative.*Animated films incorporate many of the same elements as live action musical films, while musical biopics are typically dramas with musical sequences that are explained within the world of the story.*Character archetypes in musicals include the ingenue/dreamer, tortured visionary, cynic, diva, icon, ringmaster and comic sidekick.*Notable musical subversions include The Red Shoes, The Umbrellas of Cherbourg, Dancer in the Dark, Cabaret, All That Jazz, Black Swan, Pink Floyd: The Wall, and musical biopics generally.*Musical song tropes include the Opening Song, I Want Song, Villain Song, Reprise, 11 O'Clock Song, Showstopper, and Grand Finale.Please join us for the second part of the Comedy discussion, in which slapstick, spoofs, mockumentaries, teen comedies, satires, and dark comedy will be explored in our next episode.