nancyt

While I agree that the characteristics of slapstick include physicality, exaggeration, make believe and ritual, I wonder if violence is really embodied in all slapstick. I think that there are clear instances where violence is a pivotal element (Three Stooges, Looney Tunes, Monty Python). In other instances, conflict seems to be more pervasive. The Marx Brothers historically pit class against class ( any Marx brother against Margaret Dumont). Chaplin also embraces conflict (Tramp vs. police in his silent films, Tramp vs industrialization in Modern Times, etc).