Commedia Dell'Arte: Difference between revisions
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{{trope}} |
{{trope}} |
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[[File:Columbina.jpg|frame|Columbina, possibly the sanest character in the play, considers.]] |
[[File:Columbina.jpg|frame|Columbina, possibly the sanest character in the play, considers.]] |
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A form of theater developed in late-Renaissance Italy, '''Commedia dell'Arte''' ("artists' comedy") relied on a group of [[Stock Character|stock characters]], whose roles, characteristics, and costumes were well-defined and widely known. The troupe would take a scenario, which would outline the plot, and ad-lib all their dialog and the details of the action. |
A form of theater developed in late-Renaissance Italy, '''Commedia dell'Arte''' ("artists' comedy") relied on a group of [[Stock Character|stock characters]], whose roles, characteristics, and costumes were well-defined and widely known. The troupe would take a scenario, which would outline the plot, and ad-lib all their dialog and the details of the action. |
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{{examples|Examples and references in modern media:}} |
{{examples|Examples and references in modern media:}} |
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== [[Comic Books]] == |
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⚫ | * ''Harlequin Valentine'', by [[Neil Gaiman]], is explicitly based on commedia dell'arte tropes, with Harlequin as a [[Trickster Archetype|trickster spirit]] romancing a mortal woman (who is, in the Columbine spirit, the sanest and most sensible character, and things don't go quite as expected). Along the way, Harlequin nominates the other characters as filling various stock roles, although it's ambiguous whether this is genuine insight or just a case of labelling people according to his preconceptions. |
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== [[ |
== [[Film]] == |
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* The |
* The cast of '''[[The Rocky Horror Picture Show]]''' fit this pretty well, for the most part. |
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* As can [[The Simpsons]]. |
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== Music == |
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== [[Literature]] == |
== [[Literature]] == |
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* Carlo Goldoni's plays are classic Commedia dell'Arte. |
* Carlo Goldoni's plays are classic Commedia dell'Arte. |
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* It is less evident from the book's final edition, but in ''The Master and Margarita'' by Mikhail Bulgakov two of the devil's servants bear some resemblance to the most popular zanni characters. Koroviev, the talkative trickster dressed in checked clothes brings to mind Arlecchino, and in certain early version of the novel there's a character called "Fiello", a hunchbacked brute with mouth full of fangs, dressed in white, grotesque clothes with bells attached, who seems to have some of Pulcinella's characteristics. The latter was subsequently modified by the writer to become Azazello, another servant of the devil. Azazello lacks any significant resemblance to Commedia dell'Arte characters. |
* It is less evident from the book's final edition, but in ''The Master and Margarita'' by Mikhail Bulgakov two of the devil's servants bear some resemblance to the most popular zanni characters. Koroviev, the talkative trickster dressed in checked clothes brings to mind Arlecchino, and in certain early version of the novel there's a character called "Fiello", a hunchbacked brute with mouth full of fangs, dressed in white, grotesque clothes with bells attached, who seems to have some of Pulcinella's characteristics. The latter was subsequently modified by the writer to become Azazello, another servant of the devil. Azazello lacks any significant resemblance to Commedia dell'Arte characters. |
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* Commedia dell'Arte motifs figure in the later Jerry Cornelius stories by [[Michael Moorcock]], particularly ''The Condition of Muzak'' and ''The Entropy Tango''. |
* Commedia dell'Arte motifs figure in the later ''Jerry Cornelius'' stories by [[Michael Moorcock]], particularly ''The Condition of Muzak'' and ''The Entropy Tango''. |
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* The characters do not fit the archetypes, but in ''[[The Vampire Chronicles|The Vampire Lestat]]'', the title character joins a Commedia dell'Arte troupe in his pre-vampire days. He plays Lelio, and counts his time as an actor among the best experiences in his human life. |
* The characters do not fit the archetypes, but in ''[[The Vampire Chronicles|The Vampire Lestat]]'', the title character joins a Commedia dell'Arte troupe in his pre-vampire days. He plays Lelio, and counts his time as an actor among the best experiences in his human life. |
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* In [[John C. Wright]]'s ''[[The Golden Oecumene|The Golden Age]]'', Phaethon donns a Harlequin outfit for the Masquerade. The Earthmind salutes his fidelity when he greets her. Possibly inspired by this, his foes don the forms of Scaramouche and Columbine to pursue him. |
* In [[John C. Wright]]'s ''[[The Golden Oecumene|The Golden Age]]'', Phaethon donns a Harlequin outfit for the Masquerade. The Earthmind salutes his fidelity when he greets her. Possibly inspired by this, his foes don the forms of Scaramouche and Columbine to pursue him. |
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* The story "Puss-in-Boots" in Angela Carter's ''[[The Bloody Chamber]]'' is essentially a commedia dell'arte play in prose form, with the titular cat helping his owner get in bed with Pantalone's young beautiful wife. Several stock characters of the genre are referred to by name. |
* The story "Puss-in-Boots" in Angela Carter's ''[[The Bloody Chamber]]'' is essentially a commedia dell'arte play in prose form, with the titular cat helping his owner get in bed with Pantalone's young beautiful wife. Several stock characters of the genre are referred to by name. |
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== [[Live |
== [[Live-Action TV]] == |
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* The characters of ''[[Arrested Development (TV series)|Arrested Development]]'' can do this frequently, although the main character, Michael Bluth, can shift between an Innamarata and a Pantalone multiple times in any given episode, most of the time, however, he is Pierrot. |
* The characters of ''[[Arrested Development (TV series)|Arrested Development]]'' can do this frequently, although the main character, Michael Bluth, can shift between an Innamarata and a Pantalone multiple times in any given episode, most of the time, however, he is Pierrot. |
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** The Lovers: George Michael and Maebe, although Maebe tends to also often be the rare female version of Arlecchino. |
** The Lovers: George Michael and Maebe, although Maebe tends to also often be the rare female version of Arlecchino. |
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** Pierrot: Poor, poor Michael Bluth. |
** Pierrot: Poor, poor Michael Bluth. |
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== [[ |
== [[Music]] == |
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* The cast of '''[[The Rocky Horror Picture Show]]''' fit this pretty well, for the most part. |
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== [[Web Comics]] == |
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⚫ | * ''[https://web.archive.org/web/20180801170850/https://commedia2x00.wordpress.com/ Commedia 2X00]'' uses the Commedia dell'Arte characters and plot as a vehicle, except in the skewed sci-fi/video-game setting of the Twenty-Xth Century; Dottore is a deranged cyberneticist who loses his funding for crimes against nature and arranges for his daughter Isa to marry billionaire Mr. Pants in exchange for a massive dowry, despite the fact that Isa is in love with Mr. Pants' son Flave. Dottore's project is the creation of Super Fighting Cyborgs. So far the only one we've seen is Arlecchino, who in a shout-out to Mega Man, "having a strong sense of loyalty, volunteered to be converted to a Super Fighting Cyborg." |
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⚫ | * ''Harlequin Valentine'', by [[Neil Gaiman]], is explicitly based on commedia dell'arte tropes, with Harlequin as a [[Trickster Archetype|trickster spirit]] romancing a mortal woman (who is, in the Columbine spirit, the sanest and most sensible character, and things don't go quite as expected). Along the way, Harlequin nominates the other characters as filling various stock roles, although it's ambiguous whether this is genuine insight or just a case of labelling people according to his preconceptions. |
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== [[Western Animation]] == |
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* The characters of '''[[Futurama]]''' are strikingly like Commedia characters: |
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⚫ | * [https://web.archive.org/web/20180801170850/https://commedia2x00.wordpress.com/ Commedia 2X00] uses the Commedia dell'Arte characters and plot as a vehicle, except in the skewed sci-fi/video-game setting of the Twenty-Xth Century; Dottore is a deranged cyberneticist who loses his funding for crimes against nature and arranges for his daughter Isa to marry billionaire Mr. Pants in exchange for a massive dowry, despite the fact that Isa is in love with Mr. Pants' son Flave. Dottore's project is the creation of Super Fighting Cyborgs. So far the only one we've seen is Arlecchino, who in a shout-out to Mega Man, "having a strong sense of loyalty, volunteered to be converted to a Super Fighting Cyborg." |
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* As are those of ''[[The Simpsons (animation)|The Simpsons]].'' |
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{{reflist}} |
{{reflist}} |