Comedy & Slapstick

Slapstick is a form of exaggerated physical activity that goes beyond what would be considered regular physical comedy. The term originates from 16th-century Italian comedic theater, where an instrument constructed by two wooden slats clapping together would take the place of someone being slapped or hit. The sound is far more audible than hitting a person would actually be, and it was one of the earliest forms of special effects.