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In Literary Criticism , burlesque is often used as a generic term to describe any imitative work that derives humor from an incongruous contrast between style and subject. In this usage, forms of satire such as Parody and travesty are types of burlesque (Abrams, 1999). High Burlesque refers to a burlesque imitation where a serious style is applied to commonplace or comically inappropriate subject matter — as, for example, in the literary Parody and the Mock-heroic . Low Burlesque applies an irreverent, mocking style to a serious subject; an example is Samuel Butler 's '' Hudibras '', which describes the misadventures of a Puritan knight in satiric Doggerel verse, using a Colloquial idiom.

In the 20th and 21st centuries, burlesque has come to be a genre of adult entertainment, focusing on aspects of humor, Satire and sexual tantalization.


HISTORY


The genre's origins are rooted in the 1840s , early in the Victorian Era , a time of culture clashes between the social rules of established Aristocracy and a working-class society. The genre often mocked such established entertainment forms as opera, Shakespearean drama, musicals, and ballet. The costuming (or lack thereof) increasingly focused on forms of dress considered inappropriate for polite society.

By the 1880s , the genre had created some rules for defining itself:

  • Minimal Costuming , often focusing on the female form.

  • Sexually suggestive dialog, dance, plotlines and staging.

  • Quick-witted humor, lacking complexity.

  • Short routines or sketches, with minimal plot cohesion across a show.


In the 1930s , a social crackdown on burlesque shows led to their gradual downfall. The shows had slowly changed from ensemble ribald variety performances, to simple performances focusing mostly on the Strip Tease . The advent of various forms of Pornography gradually replaced titillation.



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REFERENCES

  • Abrams, M. H. (1999). ''A Glossary of Literary Terms''. Seventh edition. Fort Worth, TX: Harcourt Brace College Publishers.



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