physical comedy
Pratfalls and gags
Physical comedy is humor achieved through bodily movement rather than words—pratfalls, exaggerated gestures, slapstick violence, and sight gags.
The tradition runs from vaudeville through silent film to modern performers: Buster Keaton was a master of physical comedy.
The term distinguishes this style from verbal wit or situational humor.
- pratfallComedic fall on buttocks
- slip and fallLose footing, then collapse
- clowningPlayful comic behavior
- over the topExcessively theatrical or extreme
- farceAbsurd, laughable situation
comic relief · Buster Keaton · pantomime · buffoonery · funny walk · rubber legs · gag · mime · body language · visual gags · harlequinade · circus arts · Lucille Ball · Laurel and Hardy · silent film · Charlie Chaplin · parody · banana peel
- comedy skillsimprov class, sketch writing, joke writing, open mic nights, character work
- comedyjokes, humor, puns, sarcasm, stand-up
- humorjoke, jokes, joking, comic, funny
- kid comedyknock-knock jokes, potty humor, poop jokes, silly faces, funny faces
- comedy elementspunchline, wit, gag, satire, irony
- comedy stylesjokes, sarcasm, puns, irony, parody
physical comedywit
Clever, inventive humor
wordplay · verbal wit · repartee · satirical comedy · intellectual humor
physical comedymelodrama
Sensational, emotionally overwrought drama
pathos · tragedy · drama · gravitas · physical theater
comedy, physical, comical, physics, comedian, physician, physique, slapstick, physically