Forms
Comedy may be divided into multiple genres based on the source of humor, the method of delivery, and the context in which it is delivered: for instance, standup comedy, improvisation, slapstick. The different forms often overlap, and most comedy can fit into multiple genres. Some of the sub-genres of comedy are farce, comedy of manners, burlesque, and satire.
Some comedy apes certain cultural forms: for instance, parody and satire often rigidly parody the conventions of the genre they are parodying. The Onion and The Colbert Report parody newspapers and television news shows like The O'Reilly Factor. Meanwhile, more character-driven comedy can transcend genre and exist in both, say, film, television and books.
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—Doris Lessing (b. 1919)
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