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In classical theater, a comedy is generally a light-hearted play which ends happily for the main characters, often with one or more pairs of lovers married or about to be married.
Contemporary comedies often do not follow this formula, but are defined primarily by an attempt to be humorous throughout, as opposed to dramas, which may have moments of humor but a more serious tone overall.
Comedies may be classified in several, overlapping categories:
Black comedy or dark comedy deals with morbid or grotesque themes and situations that could easily be tragic or horrifying if not treated with humor.
Burlesque was once a form of theatrical entertainment featuring social satire and parodies of classical work, but over the years has come to be more associated with sexual titillation, to the point at which it is sometimes used as a euphemism for nude or topless dancing.
A comedy of errors usually features a series of interconnected misunderstandings and cases of mistaken identity.
A farce is a fast-paced play in which broad comedy results from miscommunication or deliberate deception, usually leading to confusion and embarrassment for the characters. A bedroom farce includes a large dose of sexual innuendos.
A mockumentary is a comedy adopting many of the visual and narrative conventions of a documentary to portray fictional characters and events.
A parody is a humorous imitation of another work or genre.
A romantic comedy (romcom) typically features a protagonist who falls in love and must overcome a series of obstacles to win the object of his affection.
Satire ridicules individual or social vices and foibles. Although it is usually meant to be humorous, satire often has a serious message and purpose.
A screwball comedy combines elements of farce and romantic comedy with fast-paced, witty repartee. The term is strongly associated with certain American films of the 1930s and 1940s.
A sex comedy, as the name implies, relies heavily on sexual content for humor. It is usually not pornographic, however, employing innuendo and titillation rather than explicit obscenity and full nudity.
The situation comedy (sitcom) originated on radio and has been a mainstay of television programming since the 1940s. A sitcom is usually made up of discrete episodes focused on a relatively stable set of characters, such as members of a family or a group of coworkers.
Slapstick relies on highly physical and visual humor, often featuring violent and aggressive action but usually without serious harm or pain to the characters. Although often considered a low and vulgar form, effective slapstick comedy requires exquisite timing and coordination.
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