comedy techniques which were explained by rowan atkinson

Discuss three comedy techniques which were explained by Rowan Atkinson and then used in
Dads army"
Comedy is a part of life displayed naturally in daily tasks and professionally in movies and
theatres. Comedy has so many types, the most prominent of which is visual comedy. There
are various comedy techniques displayed in Dads army, which were explained in Funny
business. Visual comedy plays a significant part in forming the basis which Dads
army revolves around, as well as Physical, verbal comedy and the use of clothes. The
comedian's acts usually related to the audiences' fantasies.
Visual comedy plays a significant part in Dads army. Visual comedy liberates human beings
from reality, objects are given new meanings and values, it explores the subconscious of the
audiences' minds giving them freedom to create. For example, in one scene, the highest
officer is explaining how to board a small boat to his soldiers, constantly accusing them of not
being able to do things right. As soon as he places his foot on the boat a breeze blows the boat
further into the water thus making the officer fall. This scene consists of many branches of
visual comedy, hypocrisy and contradiction. The social expectation
was completely, unexpectedly broken, making it more humorous. The comedians'
engagement with the audience in terms of desire was very effective, in other words the
comedians did what the audience wanted to happen, not what they expected. The fact that the
high officer was accusing the soldiers of basically being clumsy supplied him with a more
humorous but unexpected contradiction .The imitated faces, although not exaggerated made
this scene more realistic, "the more realistic the comedy is the funnier"
Rowan Atkinson, funny business.
Physical and verbal comedy was part of Dads army and was explained in funny
business.
The highest officer is an example of a physical comedian, very different and always
Counter-acting problems in a unique but strange way. On the other hand his
"helper" is a good example of a verbal comedian, sharper and smarter. Between these two
actors there is an on going competitiveness, which the helper does not even realise. The high
officer is jealous of his helper simply because he is more accepted in the society. This is
childish, and childishness falls into the category of physical comedy. For example, in another
scene an old soldier falls asleep on the chair while an officer is calling him and demanding

that he gets up. Suddenly he wakes up and says "did anyone call me", the old man was acting
as though he were a child, giving life a whole new meaning. There is another person who,
when is in a vulnerable position and gives up, he always expresses his pessimistic attitude
towards the rest of his platoon, which is, again, a childish attitude. In Rowans' documentary
he mentions " with every new attitude their is a new joke". Placing the high officer with the
helper displayed a number of comedy techniques, also how the high officer counter-acted the
sharp helpers' comments was very effective. The childish techniques were applied
through giving an old man a childish character, because the bond that old men carry with
children is much stronger than young men with children.
Clothes shape the way audiences' perceive the character. Clothes helped convey humorous
hints. In another scene a platoon marches out with a few of their men wearing wedding
dresses for no obvious reason. "Unexpectedness proves humorous" in Rowan Atkinson's
video. Clothes can also be a way of hiding emotions or deceiving the audiences' expectation.
The effectiveness of the use of clothes was important in making the scene more appealing.
The way of applying this type of comedy was simply through the clothes being worn in the
wrong situation.
There are various comedy techniques displayed in Dads army, which were explained in
Funny business. Visual comedy plays a significant part in Dads army as well as physical,
verbal comedy and the use of clothes.
By: Theo Saidden