Burlesque | Vibepedia
Burlesque is a literary, dramatic, or musical work that uses caricature, parody, and ludicrous treatment to evoke laughter, often by mocking serious works or…
Contents
Overview
Burlesque has its roots in the Italian tradition of burlesco, which dates back to the 16th century. The word 'burlesque' was loaned from French and has been used in English since the late 17th century to describe literary and theatrical works that use caricature and ridicule to evoke laughter. Geoffrey Chaucer and William Shakespeare are among the authors whose works have been retrospectively classified as burlesque. The genre has also been influenced by the Graeco-Roman classics, as seen in the works of Aristophanes and Plautus.
📚 Literary Burlesque
Literary burlesque often involves the use of parody and travesty to mock serious works or subjects. Examples of literary burlesque include Alexander Pope's The Rape of the Lock and Samuel Butler's Hudibras. These works use humor and irony to comment on the social and political issues of their time, often incorporating elements of satire and social commentary. Jonathan Swift's Gulliver's Travels is another example of literary burlesque, using absurdity and ridicule to critique the politics and society of his era.
🎵 Musical Burlesque
Musical burlesque, on the other hand, often involves the use of ludicrous or absurd musical elements to evoke laughter. An example of musical burlesque is Richard Strauss's 1890 Burleske for piano and orchestra. This work uses humor and irony to comment on the musical conventions of its time, often incorporating elements of parody and pastiche. Leonard Bernstein's Candide is another example of musical burlesque, using satire and social commentary to critique the politics and society of his era.
👯 Theatrical Burlesque
Theatrical burlesque often involves the use of extravaganza and travesty to create a humorous and entertaining performance. Examples of theatrical burlesques include W. S. Gilbert's Robert the Devil and the A. C. Torr – Meyer's Bluebeard. These works use a combination of music, dance, and drama to create a humorous and entertaining performance, often incorporating elements of parody and satire. MONTY Python's Flying Circus is another example of theatrical burlesque, using absurdity and ridicule to comment on the social and political issues of their time.
Key Facts
- Year
- 17th century
- Origin
- Italy and France
- Category
- culture
- Type
- concept
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the origin of the word 'burlesque'?
The word 'burlesque' comes from the Italian word 'burlesco', which means 'joke' or 'ridicule'. It was loaned from French and has been used in English since the late 17th century to describe literary and theatrical works that use caricature and ridicule to evoke laughter. Italian language and French language have both played a significant role in shaping the concept of burlesque.
What are some examples of literary burlesque?
Examples of literary burlesque include Alexander Pope's The Rape of the Lock and Samuel Butler's Hudibras. These works use humor and irony to comment on the social and political issues of their time, often incorporating elements of satire and social commentary. Jonathan Swift's Gulliver's Travels is another example of literary burlesque, using absurdity and ridicule to critique the politics and society of his era.
What is the difference between burlesque and satire?
While both burlesque and satire use humor and irony to comment on serious issues, burlesque tends to focus on the absurdity and ridicule of a subject, whereas satire tends to focus on the critique and commentary of a subject. Voltaire's Candide is an example of satire, using humor and irony to comment on the social and political issues of his time. Burlesque, on the other hand, often incorporates elements of parody and travesty to create a humorous and entertaining performance.
What is the relationship between burlesque and extravaganza?
Extravaganza is a theatrical genre that often incorporates elements of burlesque, such as caricature and ridicule. Examples of theatrical burlesques include W. S. Gilbert's Robert the Devil and the A. C. Torr – Meyer's Bluebeard. These works use a combination of music, dance, and drama to create a humorous and entertaining performance, often incorporating elements of parody and satire. MONTY Python's Flying Circus is another example of theatrical burlesque, using absurdity and ridicule to comment on the social and political issues of their time.
How has burlesque influenced contemporary culture?
Burlesque has had a significant influence on contemporary culture, with many artists and performers incorporating elements of burlesque into their work. MONTY Python's Flying Circus, for example, used absurdity and ridicule to comment on the social and political issues of their time. South Park is another example of contemporary burlesque, using satire and social commentary to critique the politics and society of our era. Burlesque has also influenced the development of other genres, such as absurdist theatre and comedy.