Comedy to start with was any play that ended happily such as in Shakespeare. It is now considered a (maybe so-called) humorous performance in the performing arts such as theater/theatre (including stand-up) television and film. People are divided about what is funny-some people prefer the slapstick approach, others prefer a gentler sort of humour. One interpretation of comedy is when things seem normal (in a joke for instance) and suddenly things get turned on their head.