Burlesque (literary)

Burlesque (literary)

In literary criticism, the term burlesque is employed in genre criticism to describe any imitative work that derives humor from an incongruous contrast between style and subject. In this usage, forms of satire such as parody are types of burlesque (Abrams, 1999). The term came into English usage in the seventeenth century, through French from Italian "burla", a trick or joke, "burlesca". The word first appears in a title in Francesco Berni's "Opere Burlesche", works that had circulated widely in manuscript before they were printed. For a time burlesque verses were known as "poesie bernesca" in his honour.

In this primary usage, High burlesque refers to a burlesque imitation where a serious style is applied to commonplace or comically inappropriate subject matter — as, for example, in the literary parody and the mock-heroic. Low burlesque applies an irreverent, mocking style to a serious subject; an example is Samuel Butler's "Hudibras", which describes the misadventures of a Puritan knight in satiric doggerel verse, using a colloquial idiom. Pure burlesque is simply comedy; the addition of Butler's ethical subtext has made his caricatures into satire. A burlesque literary performance is intentionally ridiculous in that it imitates several styles and combined imitations of certain authors and artists with absurd descriptions. In this, the term "burlesque" was often used interchangeably with 'pastiche', 'parody', and the seventeenth and eighteenth century genre of the 'mock-heroic'. Burlesque is an inherently social form, one that depends on the reader's contextual expectations. When a reader approaches burlesque without expectations, and the comedy needs to be explicated in a preface and annotations, the effect is blunted.

ee also

*Burlesque (disambiguation)
*Burlesque

Notes

References

*Abrams, M. H. (1999) "A Glossary of Literary Terms". Seventh edition. Fort Worth, TX: Harcourt Brace College Publishers
*Hedin, Thomas F. (2001) "The Petite Commande of 1664: Burlesque in the gardens of Versailles", "The Art Bulletin"

External links

* [http://www.1911encyclopedia.org/Burlesque "Encyclopaedia Britannica" 1911: "Burlesque"]


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужен реферат?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Burlesque (genre) — Burlesque is a genre of entertainment also known as Travesty. Prior to Burlesque becoming associated with striptease, it was a form of musical and theatrical parody in which an opera or piece of classical theatre is adapted in a broad, often… …   Wikipedia

  • Burlesque — is theatrical entertainment of broad and parodic humor, which usually consists of comic skits (and sometimes a strip tease). Some authorsFact|date=September 2008 assert burlesque is a direct descendant of the Commedia dell arte; the term… …   Wikipedia

  • Burlesque (disambiguation) — Burlesque may refer to: * Burlesque, theatrical entertainment of broad and parodic humor * Neo Burlesque, A revival/updating of the traditional burlesque performance * Burlesque (genre), in genre criticism (a subset of literary criticism),… …   Wikipedia

  • burlesque — ► NOUN 1) a comically exaggerated imitation, especially in a literary or dramatic work. 2) N. Amer. a variety show, typically including striptease. ► VERB (burlesques, burlesqued, burlesquing) ▪ parody. ORIGIN French, from Itali …   English terms dictionary

  • burlesque — burlesquely, adv. burlesquer, n. /beuhr lesk /, n., adj., v., burlesqued, burlesquing. n. 1. an artistic composition, esp. literary or dramatic, that, for the sake of laughter, vulgarizes lofty material or treats ordinary material with mock… …   Universalium

  • burlesque — bur•lesque [[t]bərˈlɛsk[/t]] n. adj. v. lesqued, lesquing 1) lit. a comic literary or dramatic piece that vulgarizes lofty material or elevates the ordinary 2) any ludicrous parody or grotesque caricature 3) sbz a stage show featuring comic, usu …   From formal English to slang

  • Literary genre — A literary genre is a category of literary composition. Genres may be determined by literary technique, tone, content, or even (as in the case of fiction) length. Genre should not be confused with age category, by which literature may be… …   Wikipedia

  • burlesque — I. noun Etymology: burlesque, adjective, comic, droll, from French, from Italian burlesco, from burla joke, from Spanish Date: 1667 1. a literary or dramatic work that seeks to ridicule by means of grotesque exaggeration or comic imitation 2.… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • burlesque — n., adj., & v. n. 1 a comic imitation, esp. in parody of a dramatic or literary work. b a performance or work of this kind. c bombast, mock seriousness. 2 US a variety show, often including striptease. adj. of or in the nature of burlesque. v.tr …   Useful english dictionary

  • burlesque —    (ber LESK) [French, from Italian] A literary or dramatic work that uses comic or mocking imitation in its treatment of a serious or dignified subject. Any broad satire, parody, or grotesque caricature. Characterized by ridiculous incongruity.… …   Dictionary of foreign words and phrases

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”