Slapstick: Why Is It Funny?

The other day I was trying to explain what exactly “slapstick” was to my roommate and why it was funny and I found myself sort of struggling. Therefore, I decided to sort out my thoughts and write this.

WHAT?

Let me start out by answering the question “what is slapstick?” In its simplest version, slapstick is a form of physical comedy. It is defined by its very exaggerated, almost cartoonish style often combined with injury and/or misfortune in the character(s) behalf. There are rarely serious physical consequences and everything is presented in a harmless and goofy way. Some defining features of slapstick include tripping, pratfalls, hitting, falling, etc. which are focused on more than plot or character development.

a "batacchio" or a "slap stick"

Where did the term come from, some might be wondering? I know I was. The term actually comes from the Italian word “batacchio”-- translated means “slap stick”-- which was used in commedia dell’arte (an early theater in Italy). It is a club-like object of two sticks that when struck produces a loud smacking noise. It allowed actors to "hit" one another repeatedly with great audible effect without causing damage and with minor to no pain.

WHY?

With that definition, slapstick may sound a little stupid to some people. Why should people falling or getting hurt be funny? 

I actually read in an article that the humor people find in slapstick is very deeply rooted in our brains. There was a study done on patients who had sustained some sort of head trauma and they were shown a variety of comedy clips. The study showed that many of the patients lost the ability to understand higher humor such as puns and witty dialogue, but almost all found slapstick funny.

But why is slapstick funny?

I’ve been thinking about it a lot and I’ve broken it down. Why do we laugh at other people’s pain?

1) There is a loss of dignity

I personally love seeing self-important people get put in their place. This is often what happens in slapstick: the villains/high-and-mighty are the ones who get the brunt of the beating. The main characters are often clumsy and/or idiotic, but good-natured and they end up getting themselves into trouble with the wrong people through their own foolishness. Because of their innocence, you root for them instead of the mean old miser they have ticked off. Slapstick is often less funny if the main character is not as likable. 

It is very funny to see the main character hit the antagonist in the face with a pie, or push them in a muddy puddle, or something. There’s just something immensely satisfying about it because don’t we just want to do something like that to people we know who are like that?

It is still funny to see these things happen to our main characters too through their own stupidity, clumsiness, and/or mischievousness.

From "Duck Soup" starring the Marx Brothers

2) It requires great skill

Through the description of slapstick, one might think that it is easy. Just fall on your butt and everyone will laugh. No. There’s actually a lot of thought and timing that goes into it. If not done properly, it could totally fall flat (pun intended. Ha!)

Plus there are some clever ways of falling. Think about it; if you just fall on your face, that’s all well and good and you might get people to laugh, but if you fall into a puddle or a pile of manure that’s even funnier. Better yet, what if it happens repeatedly?

From "The Pink Panther Strikes Again" starring Peter Sellers

See how he repeatedly falls in the water, but it's different every time

and still funny. I could watch this a thousand times and not get 

tired of it.

3) It’s often unexpected

Surprises will often jolt people into laughter. Seeing someone walking down the street then suddenly hit their head on a street sign gets people to laugh. We are surprised and concerned which spurs us into laughter.

From "It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World"

From "Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy"

This is one of the most ridiculous, unexpected scenes I have ever 

witnessed and it got me to laugh so hard. It's not PURELY slapstick,

but it demonstrates my point about the unexpected.

4) It’s not us

There’s at least a small part of us no matter how subconscious it is that laughs at pain because we are relieved it’s not happening to us. We spend our entire lives trying so hard to avoid discomfort and embarrassment that when we see someone else experience it, we are relieved it’s not happening to us. 

From "Seinfeld- The Wait Out" (Season 7, Episode 23)

5) It is the product of mayhem

This might be hard to believe, but people actually love mayhem. As much as people love order and organization, people also love to watch things fall apart (as long as they don’t have to clean up afterwards). Why are action movies so popular? Why do people love watching people get into fights? How many people are oddly satisfied by destroying things (whether watching it or doing it yourself?) I know I myself have get a strange pleasure out of crushing of cookies for a dessert or knocking over a block tower. If we were given the chance to demolish a building for construction, would we say no?

The point I’m trying to make is that creating mayhem and destruction goes against what we try to do in our modern life but is hugely attractive for us to witness.

From "The Three Stooges- Three Little Beers"

HISTORY

Slapstick has been used for hundreds of years. Shakespeare himself, the master of words, incorporated it into his plays through chases scenes and beatings. 

It grew in popularity in the early 19th century in England as pantomime became a thing and by the 1850’s, it was one of the most popular forms of comedy.

Fred Karno

It was during this time that many comedy legends began to hone their skills at pantomime and music hall sketches. Vaudeville was developed in the United States, discovering many young stars, while one gentleman by the name of Fred Karno formed Fred Karno’s Army in Britain. Fred Karno is credited as the man who originated modern slapstick comedy. His troupe included future stars Charlie Chaplin and Stan Laurel. He also came up with the pie in the face gag.

As silent films came into play, pantomime was the biggest option. While dramatic films were released, comedies were (in my opinion) far more effective because slapstick was already a form of overacting. This is where true comedy legends really began to shine. People still know who Charlie Chaplin is today. While Fred Karno originated slapstick, Charlie Chaplin defined it.

Other stars came out of the silent film era such as Laurel and Hardy, Buster Keaton, and the Keystone Cops. 

From "The Rink" starring Charlie Chaplin

Charlie Chaplin

Once sound was introduced into film, slapstick was not deterred and was even improved; using funny sound effects to emphasize the falls, hits, and bumps only added to the silliness. This is where the Three Stooges came in. So, while Fred Karno originated it and Charlie Chaplin defined it, I say the Three Stooges perfected it. 

Other stars came out of the early era as well; most famously, the Marx Brothers.

Cartoons are no stranger to slapstick either. I said in the definition that it has a cartoonish style. Cartoons, however, are even more exaggerated. The characters get completely flattened by anvils, they get blackened by a bomb that exploded in their hands, etc. 

Warner Brothers started making their Looney Tunes cartoons in the mid-20th century which really defined slapstick in cartoons with their shorts like Bugs Bunny, Wile E. Coyote and Road Runner, Sylvester and Tweety, etc.

Also early on, a very defining slapstick cartoon was created by Hannah-Barbera: Tom and Jerry. This cartoon show really engulfed everything one needed in a slapstick cartoon. 

As the years have rolled on, people have continued to make slapstick films. Some have been hilarious, some not so much. In my personal opinion, I think that the older films have a better grasp on why slapstick is funny because they put real thought into it. In later years, people are in the mentality that if someone just gets hit in the crotch or punched in the face, people will laugh. As I said earlier, it’s not necessarily so. It will be so much funnier with the right buildup, the proper delivery, how it is executed, the payoff, the reactions, and other factors. 

Some good examples of more modern-day comedians and movies are Mel Brooks, the Farrelly Brothers, Rowan Atkinson, Jim Carrey, and Monty Python.

From "Liar Liar" starring Jim Carrey

In almost every comedy movie/tv show there is at least one character that is predominantly physical. For example, Steve Urkle in Family Matters or Cosmo Kramer in Seinfeld. It’s not to say that these characters don’t have funny lines or anything, but simply through their appearance, mannerisms, and over-the-top behavior and reactions to things make their characters that much funnier. (Notice too, that these are some of the most popular characters on their shows.)

I have always enjoyed slapstick and probably always will. I know that it’s not for everyone, but at least now I have (hopefully) managed to explain WHY a lot of people find it entertaining.