Shakespeare's "The Comedy of Errors": A Psycho-Semiotic Analysis

(Paperback)

Publishing Details

Classifications

Physical Properties

Description

Shakespeares Comedy of Errors: A Psycho-Semiotic Analysis uses semiotics alongpsychoanalytic to offer a granular analysis of one of Shakespeares funniest and mostinteresting comedies. It is distinctive in that it offers a discussion of the basic techniquesfound incomic literature of all kinds and applies these techniques to events in the play.

It also offers a discussion of the basic theories of humor and a syntagmatic and paradigmaticanalysis of the play.

Reviews

Arthur Asa Berger has done it again. A brilliant semiotician, a renowned humor scholar andvisual artist, Berger has used all three skills for this remarkable book onShakespearesComedy of Errors. Applying selected aspects of the many theories of humor,along with semiotic methods of narrative analysis, Berger shows how they make their wayconcretely into Shakespeares play, itself a theatrical essay on why we laughby making uslaugh. This book is not only enjoyable because of Bergers own caricature art, which heintersperses throughout, but also because he has written it in his usual fluid style, making nospecial technical assumptions on the part of the reader, without ever comprising thescholarly seriousness of his approach. Reading this book we are enlightened andentertained at the same time, realizing by the end that life is indeed a comedy oferrors.Marcel Danesi, Professor Emeritus, University of Toronto.

Arthur Asa Berger is an important, versatile scholar. In his scientific work, he devotes muchof his time to the study of humor and laughter. For the first time in the study ofShakespeare's comedies, he offers a unique method by which one can understand not onlythis play but any comedic work whether it is in theater, cinema, or television. I highlyrecommend the book to anyone interested in Shakespearean humor or comedy and humorin general.Prof. Arie Sover, Communication and Humor Studies, The Open University ofIsrael, Author of Jewish Humor (Cambridge Scholars Press), 2021 and EditorofTheLanguages of Humor: Verbal, Visual and Physical Humor(Bloomsbury Academic)2018.

Every why hath a wherefore, declares a character in Shakespeares Comedy of Errors. In ahumorous guide to what we find funny, Professor Berger offers us several wherefores and acatalogue of whys. Is it all about incongruity Until I know this sure uncertainty, I'll entertainthe offered fallacy, quips another character.Daniel Chandler, Aberystwyth University,Wales.

A delightful, very readable introduction to theories of humor that Berger brings to lifethrough an analysis of Shakespeare's The Comedy of Errors. Insightful and funny as you,the reader, like it.Professor Dirk vom Lehn, Kings College London.

Arthur Asa Berger is one of the best world scholars in the study of humor, who has writtenseven books on various aspects of the topic. His latest work, The Comedy of Errors: APsycho-Semiotic Analysis, deals with different theories of humor, and then explains andapplies his research on the forty-five techniques of humor to the play. Although the booksdeals with many topics, the major part of the book is devoted to his semiotic analysis of TheComedy of Errors. In addition, his writing style is light and graceful, similar to what might findfrom a professor from the Sorbonne. He has a distinctive sense of humor, and his drawingsare just great.Christo Kaftandjiev, Ph.D., Professor of Communication and MarketingSemiotics Sofia University, Faculty of Journalism and Mass Communications.

Author Bio

Arthur Asa Berger is Professor Emeritus of Broadcast and Electronic Communication Arts at San Francisco State University.