Comedy is a genre of dramatic works intended to be humorous or amusing by inducing laughter, often through theatre, film, television, stand-up, radio, books, or other entertainment media

. It typically features characters placed in amusing or unusual situations and often ends happily, with the protagonist overcoming obstacles or poor circumstances through comic effects

. Comedy originated in ancient Greece, where it was used to influence public opinion through political satire and depicted conflicts between groups or social conventions, often involving a powerless youth overcoming societal obstacles with cleverness that provokes laughter

. The classic view, dating back to Aristotle, sees comedy as a social corrective that holds a mirror to society's follies and vices to encourage improvement

. There are many subgenres of comedy, including farce, satire, burlesque, romantic comedy, comedy of manners, slapstick, and dark comedy. These subgenres vary by their source of humor, delivery, and context, but commonly use techniques such as mistaken identity, social commentary, wordplay, and stock characters

. In summary, comedy is a broad artistic form designed to entertain and amuse by highlighting human foibles and social absurdities, often concluding with positive resolutions that reinforce social norms or celebrate human resilience