The Immortal Comedy: The Comic Phenomenon in Art, Literature, and Life

by Ágnes Heller

Immortal Comedy is the first book to 'think' philosophically about the comic phenomenon in general. Although author Agnes Heller had written a book that is both deeply scholarly and meditative on the subject of the comic form in film, literature, and life her writing is eminently approachable. In both its subject and style, Immortal Comedy is a seminal book. In it, Heller takes us on a journey through theories of comedy beginning with classical thought. She then detours through foundational political thinkers who refer to, for instance, laughter and power. We are also introduced to modern systematic approaches to thinking comedy, psychological approaches, and existential approaches. The discerning combination of Heller's individual taste for the pantheon of comedic work and, also, what critics may consider 'less significant' work gives this book a character apart from all others. It is the detail with which Heller makes her discussion, how and where she locates 'the comic,' and probably most significantly her discussion of comedy and our own lives that makes Immortal Comedy a principal book for the entire range of humanities scholars and enthusiasts.

240 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2005

About the author

Ágnes Heller was a Hungarian philosopher and lecturer. She was a core member of the Budapest School philosophical forum in the 1960s and later taught political theory for 25 years at the New School for Social Research in New York City. She lived, wrote and lectured in Budapest.

Reviews

[Rafael Borrego · Rating 3 out of 5]

El libro tiene dos partes diferenciadas de las cuales me ha interesado más la primera que la segunda. El comienzo del libro tiene una perfecta diferenciación entre comedia, tragedia y la definición de catarsis tal como la entendía Aristóteles con su poder purificador.
También hay un muy interesante ensayo sobre la risa como atributo humano y sus formas de uso.
A partir de ese momento el libro parece diluirse en unos ejemplos que no parecen tan claros para todos pero si para la autora del ensayo. Hablamos de la novela cómica, la comedia existencial o la influencia del chiste, las arte visuales (muy flojo) y el cine.
Para los interesados un libro algo irregular.