Why and How We are Looking for the Comical? Theories and Objects

The course focuses on the notion of the comical as a general concept. This includes more than just different genres and techniques of comedies. We will start with a close reading of old and new theories of the comical in philosophy, psychoanalysis, and poetics. Why and about what are we laughing? This is a general question that concerns the specific cinematic and visual strategies in film. Along film theoretical and analytical texts we will further focus on visibility and vision and on picture/language gaps as media for filmic jokes, wit and humour. Course is for Graduates only. Upperclass undergrads require permission.