Comedic Violence, Effects of

Comedic violence refers to the depiction of violence in ways that are considered humorous. Attributions involve exaggerated, boisterous actions, farce, or other activities that may exceed the boundaries of common sense. Comedic violence is a type of broad, physical comedy that utilizes various representations of violence intended to provide comedic relief and entertainment for the audience. It originated from slapstick comedy—for example, a pie in the face or slipping on a banana peel—and evolved into more physical, violent actions such as being hit in the head with a hot iron or manually pulling out teeth. This entry briefly introduces comedic violence and discusses its evolution from slapstick comedy. More specifically, this entry focuses on the representations and effects of cartoon violence and comedic violence found ...