Why is Aristophanes called "The Father of Comedy"? - Mark Robinson

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Aristophanes, often referred to as the Father of Comedy, wrote the world’s earliest surviving comic dramas. They're stuffed full of parodies, songs, sexual jokes and surreal fantasy -- and they’ve shaped how comedy’s been written and performed ever since. Mark Robinson shares a brief history of Aristophanes.
Lesson by Mark Robinson, directed by Anton Bogaty.
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[@TEDEd]

We want to share student Talks with the world. Get started and turn your big idea into the next big TED Talk: bit.ly/2MUY1KK! Because every student has an idea worth spreading.

[@Fman-qr4or]

Yay Ted Ed I'm early! I like your channel a lot :).

[@felixlee9645]

TED-Ed do more riddles

[@Fman-qr4or]

Yeah. Riddles are the best!!!

[@damirsarlah808]

Do we make the decisions in our dreams or are they determited in advance and our brains just make us think we make then or do we actually make them?

[@Vibranium_man]

Ted-Ed can you tell the the story of medusa and perseus.

[@peteralves2280]

Lmao diss tracks existed that early?

[@randomsht9836]

IKR

[@RPM1776]

When was the diss track

[@Geronimo012]

Random ?

[@Geronimo012]

Random ?

[@RPM1776]

pain is hilarious. hahahahaha huh?

[@pantonfire]

Been saying this for centuries: Aristophanes needs a Netflix special.

[@achyuthanand3624]

Aren't you on a partnership with Amazin Prime ? TRAITORRRRRRR !!!!!

[@pokenerd99]

Ecclesiazusae will need a lot more programming before it becomes palatable!

[@Vibranium603]

Aristophanes needs to be a guest on The Grade Cricketer!

[@adamlatosinski5475]

4:37 That message. Even if comedy offends people, it is needed and shan't be silenced.

[@beverlyn21]

Not anything, social issues and justice

[@EliStettner]

Tell that to Dave Chapelle

[@prismus6520]

So... Aristophanes not only created comedy, but also fourth wall breaking?

[@silvia7292]

I mean, Aristophanes did not create comedy, he is considered the father of it because of his great contribution. But also because his plays are the ones that survived until today: we not only have very big fragments, but even entire plays written by him. It's something that didn't happen for the other playwrighters of the age of archaic comedy (almost). This means that he didn't invent the parabasis, but he sure used it like a pro!

[@prismus6520]

I forgot about him being the “father of comedy” and not its maker. I just remembered. Thank you for letting me know.

[@D.M.S.]

You coukd call him father of satire

[@giwrgos_perdi]

@@D.M.S. Satire and Comedy are two different genres

[@D.M.S.]

@@giwrgos_perdi I know I wrote papers about it.

[@sirreginaldfishingtonxvii6149]

He's an ancient memelord. Pay your respects.

[@REEEPROGRAM]

The first ever recorded memelord in history

[@cleatusgarfunkel7878]

F

[@zafar5059]

Press F to pay respects

[@vishwahsiva8738]

F

[@tucan9111]

F

[@rooney0423]

"Comedy too can sometimes discern what is right. I shall not please, but I shall say what is true" -Aristophanes, "Acharnians" 425BC

[@vincenzoalbanese6021]

Badass

[@mondedusilence]

Just think: 2,500 years ago, there was a place on earth where people were going to the theatre to see actors making fun of the rulers. 2,500 years later, in about half of this world, this is still almost impossible.

[@scphj7745]

Instead it now occurs all over the internet, which is far easier to spread them😂

[@gFamWeb]

Presidents correspondents dinner, maybe

[@aclark903]

When was the last time you saw a Biden joke on Saturday night live?

[@ifurkend]

3:00 Earliest “make love, not war”?

[@mountainmoth]

Basically

[@rodgers1207]

But the "make love" part is litteral.

[@crisoliveira2644]

More like "either make love or war".

[@Alsk34XKotomi]

Its sounds more like "make peace or no love"

[@unleashingpotential-psycho9433]

If I saw a play where the people said they would defecate if they didn't win, I'd probably make them 2nd place also.

[@alicekliewer]

Oh so you're into that kind of stuff.

[@conquerorofrats9196]

Haider Rizvi no I think they were trying to be edgy funny cause they put them in second even though they were threatened

[@blazeylikme7801]

Kinky

[@andydaniel7063]

So... you like #2

[@pedroprojects2374]

Can you help me get 200 subscribers?....i particularly post about space and planets....so if your interested...consider subscribing.

[@Zapzel24]

Now the irony is, that we do assignments on this guy which makes us groan in agony when in reality he wanted his works to bring humor to everyone.

[@hambos]

Tell me about it!

[@michaelhalim511]

Who would have tought about an open interractions between the comedian and the audience in that age. Thats a brilliant and well thought idea

[@PILOSOPAUL]

I've only read Aristophanes's CLOUDS (translations/commentaries by Dover, Arrowsmith, Forman, Rogers, and West) and as a Philosophy Major I gotta say it is indeed well written. He also breaks the fourth wall cleverly, probably the first time fourth wall breaking has ever occurred in history.

[@netowner666]

I love Lysistrata, my literature teacher made me read it and its genuinely hilarious and wholesome

[@Tasuofrivia]

I played AC Odyssey and thank god I watched this video about Aristophanes before I play the game. In the game, we set up a play to mock Kleon to remove the people’s support for him. During the quest, there’s dialogue of sausages, the play showing the actor Kleon getting beaten with a huge sausage. Finally the quest is called “The Knights.” Following the history in the game makes me so proud and how awesome Aristophanes to do this in 500 century BC! PS: also getting into philosophy debates with Socrates and swaying the people of Athens to reconsider their vote is awesome.

[@bisvizstudio1242]

I've played it too and so I know Aristophanes and Kleon better than anyone else here 😄

[@danplays1403]

Same here!

[@DrDiskos]

Getting into a philosophical debate against Socrates and winning is a rather unrealistic thing to put in the game but I really respect the notion

[@docbaker3333]

"Open you mind before your mouth" words everyone should live by.

[@diyamehta9284]

2:03 I see you, Trump

[@dvderif]

I think the other two are Mitch McConnell and Paul Ryan

[@addaccount9246]

Oh thank God im not the only one who saw that

[@vatanrangani8033]

We**

[@robertsimon2885]

Diya Mehta 🤦‍♂️.

[@diyamehta9284]

@@vatanrangani8033 I apologise. *We

[@mohammedmhilal4129]

So Aristophanes is the ultimate dank memer?

[@volimNestea]

The original 👍

[@giwrgos_perdi]

Yeap. He is the Father of Memes.

[@joso5681]

Nito, the first of the dead

[@aymanayad7230]

@@joso5681 rave Lord you mean

[@SheepDog-hj4jx]

The OG Memer idfk xD

[@AvailableUsernameTed]

Ancient Greek Comedian: How about those Trojans? Do they really need such a high wall around Troy? Like big deal. One wooden horse and we're through it.

[@komalahayes1535]

Rimshot🎶🎵

[@AvailableUsernameTed]

Ancient Greek Comedian: Whoah tough Agora. I can't tell which of you are citizens and who are the statues.

[@liam-ethanwallis4924]

It's not even a real horse!

[@makarov-fatheroffairies8788]

Hmmm so basically Aristophanes is responsible for MEMES

[@jeancarlos0596]

STEVE SMITH jajajaajajajajajajaajajaja

[@thenikhilray99]

and Steve Smith is responsible for? 👀👀

[@davesvens8697]

Yes...

[@fulcrum2951]

The father of memes

[@ericward8459]

Memefather!!

[@dizzyydreamer]

I appreciate that lil cameo at 2:02

[@mkb6418]

And in the middle we meet Κοσμάς Τρομπέτας. An ancient δημαγωγός who proclaimed "Athens first" and that he will build a Great Wall and make Sparta to pay for it.

[@waleedalam7927]

Funnily enough Athens had “the long walls” but I don’t think Sparta had to pay for it though they were pissed they were made.

[@lukemitchell5470]

I mean just look at the Melian Dialogue...

[@komalahayes1535]

😂😂😂 NERRRD! ... But Sparta would send three, not three hundred to kick the administration's butt😏

[@RPM1776]

Komala Hayes Sparta is so savage

[@naimrohimi6577]

@@komalahayes1535 nah they would send one Spartan to shout "THIS IS SPARTA!" Out loud while sparta-kicking all of if them

[@markquijano1062]

I love these, better than history class!

[@rodgers1207]

I know!

[@Albert_Lecter03]

Mark Quijano but this technically is history class (but better so I’am not against it lol)

[@smurchison2]

We are doing a unit on Greece in class, but we only skimmed over the subject of Aristophanes. This was so cool to learn!! (I'll make sure to impress my teacher with my newfound knowledge next week) ;)

[@silvia7292]

I'm impressed by how accurate this video is. Good job!

[@thesteadfastduelist6258]

*It's nice to know that comedy lasts for centuries.*

[@DrRank]

So, Aristophanes basically invented the fourth wall break? We have him to thank for such works as Monty Python and The Emperor's New Groove.

[@carlcarlson5553]

No probably not. There were many comedians before and during his time.

[@rakeshsanthosh91]

Technically world's first meme/troll maker lol #dankAristophanes

[@phantombeard6262]

i've got ideas for another "History vs." History vs. -Richard Wagner, Sir John A Macdonald., Martin Luther, Oda Nobunaga, Charlemagne, Alexander Hamilton. Keep up the good work

[@vn88ttt]

TED-Ed sure has become greater than legends, stories, fables, and lessons. It has become... COMEDIES! Comedy, makes TED videos great again.

[@diobrando2396]

2:03*FELL OF CHAIR LAUGHING*

[@BuddyL]

🎭 As an actor, writer, producer, and director (primarily for theatre), I love this celebration of my favourite art form.👏🏿

[@cs889201a]

“war mongering warlords” *shows trump*

[@natelarson458]

I almost spit our my drink when I saw Trump.

[@marisamendes6894]

@Axiom Steel26 didnt Trump almost cause ww3 last year?

[@johnkon2771]

@@marisamendes6894 didn't trump signed peace deals last month?

[@sirk603]

@@johnkon2771 wasn’t this supposed to be a joke?

[@sirk603]

@@marisamendes6894 wasn’t this supposed to be a joke?

[@peterpatko5484]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but souldn't there only be male actors in ancient Greek theatre?

[@amp-le4699]

Pretty sure the actors acted as female

[@datkhornedog899]

I thought that only applies to tragedies.

[@vrisbrianm4720]

The male actors would dress up as women for female characters

[@ReturntoSpender]

Yeah, and? You think the ancient Greeks didn't have wigs and fake boobs? The cartoon can easily be interpreted as showing boys acting as women if you want to see it that way.

[@christermi]

The actors wore masks and outfit which was fitting to their role in the play.

[@hasnain9654]

That question is as weird to answer as this question, "Why is TED-Ed called 'The Father of Explaining?'" ;)

[@crispico4727]

And where is this Theodore Edward?

[@hasnain9654]

@@crispico4727 who is he?

[@knightvertrag]

'The Father of Understanding' is much better

[@hasnain9654]

@@knightvertrag TED-Ed explains and we understand. 'Father of Undertanding'..... Umm... Doesn't suit here sorry 🙁

[@denizerkan9386]

Am i the only one who saw mitch mcconell, trump and pence at 2:09?

[@Rachel-fi4sc]

I think it's important to note that he made a prime to punch up rather than down. It's a lesson we could use reminding of today.

[@FrennisDaemon]

Comedy is the ultimate weapon against bullying. Then, and now.

[@theresafushiguro3107]

Is it coincidence when I'm wearing a shirt with a quote "open your mind before your mouth" and this video starts with this quote too... wow.

[@btetschner]

Interesting! I like how you included some techniques of comedy, very thought-provoking.

[@Zapponte]

I just loved this lesson ! Keep doing this classical analisys

[@aorober2007]

Love the animation. The video is very instructive and made me long to see Aristophanes' plays on stage.

[@saniaqueen7343]

On 2:06 the middle one looks like Donald Trump 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@pjentermacmemes.7875]

That's called a mimic

[@syedaga4711]

🤣🤣

[@scarletletter4900]

Think that might have been on purpose😂

[@camellias.7106]

That's because it is.

[@buzhichun]

Accompanied by Mitch McConnell and Paul Ryan?

[@TytoAlpha]

u know how sometimes you are just struck by something that makes you pause and appreciate how you identify with something on like a really profound level? thats how i feel about the guy at 1:07

[@ledzepgirl92]

I recently read Lysistrata. It is an ancient work that never stopped being relevant. Spike Lee's Chiraq is a really good contemporary adaption of its themes.

[@redcenteno7150]

The kododumenoi depicted in 2:18 look a bit familiar... might just be me lol

[@RedScorpion92]

Just goes to show how important comedy is that even in centuries past to this day. Those with power hate the power of comedy for its ability to mock and weaken their authority. Its why they always seek to censor comedy that offends them because they know it works.

[@biohazard6636]

2:01 a small lone of a million Drachma

[@Jofin101]

First, live the narrators voice, he could read me anything! And thank you for another wonderful video.

[@felipecabingas3694]

I remember his name in the symposium of Plato's dialogue

[@eyuin5716]

2:04 I wonder who that is? 😂

[@no-lifenoah7861]

Ęÿūį Æßñ Emojiis are tacky and you should feel tacky.

[@jayh.2566]

DT

[@hasnain9654]

@@no-lifenoah7861 what do u mean

[@Clayton0301]

Ted-Ed, we see what you did. Thank you for your courage, and being a voice in education, thought, and expanding knowledge

[@abortionismurderfetalheart2785]

lame. obummer is the worst.

[@aniellabandril7900]

2:03 is that Trump?

[@brucelee12]

Nah, his hands aren't tiny enough.

[@NoOneIsSafeInTheEnd]

Bernie, trump and obama

[@maisacheem4559]

I personally like Greek comedy

[@maisacheem4559]

Your gf is Ricci flat lol ....thank you

[@darkspd31]

Number? DM me

[@alienalchemist]

Can you name one greek comedy play?

[@maisacheem4559]

Angelo Igonia I have read plutus one .

[@bobalinx8762]

3:42 I can totally see Pop Team Epic doing something like this!

[@muhammaddaffamarbun2889]

"How about another joke, Kleon?"

[@gizmorazaar]

Real subtle, TED-Ed.

[@mustafaahmed3693]

2:03 Is that....?

[@kyelwilliams4280]

Mustafa Ahmed it is

[@hannibustoogfyrre6074]

Yep, it is the best president of the 21st century.

[@hasnain9654]

@@hannibustoogfyrre6074 if he is best president then why do people curse him?

[@JoschuaSchmidt]

Thia is incredible - thank you so much

[@dawnglianapachuau6433]

He's a Genius.

[@Castaccio]

4:22 dang you guys really like mocking him! XD

[@Bejunckt]

I'm sure that's inspired from SNL 's sketch with Alec Baldwin as Trump and Steve Bannon as a skeleton or Death.

[@abortionismurderfetalheart2785]

obummer is the worst

[@leonardopaulsen2116]

I like it

[@rimfire8217]

Yeah it’s honestly kind of getting old

[@siyacer]

2:02 Damn

[@WackyConundrum]

Superb episode! Thanks!

[@flixouille6408]

Seeing the thumbnail I first thought Aristophanes were some weird bugs x)

[@ranamudassir1568]

Thanks you brother God bless you Love from Pakistan.

[@scullysderpfaceismalaife1907]

I love these history animations so much

[@frankwu4747]

2:06 references are acknowledged

[@arthurdiserbeau1736]

2:11 looks like Trump in the middle😂

[@eyuin5716]

I new right. Lol it’s fitting

[@ritikchawla8298]

4:21 is better

[@stephaniesummer2663]

Arthur Diserbeau It’s is Trump.

[@hasnain9654]

@@ritikchawla8298 lol

[@lemondragon18]

With Mitch Mcconnell on the left and Paul Ryan on the right.

[@k.t.5405]

Even though we are depicting a Mediterranean civilization....not a SINGLE TANNED INDIVIDUAL ANYWHERE!!! COME ON TED-ED!

[@johndavenport2847]

This is so sad; Alcaeus play Despacito

[@octapusxft]

You forgot about how the comedy plays helped get information about the culinary practices of that time since Comedy had room for everyday life and mentions of food

[@revilorere]

If he is the father of comedy, then I bet he made some sick dad jokes

[@asurajsharma]

Knowledge about the ancient Greece and origins of comedy and its creator is an upgrade in my system memory!

[@gautamkhosla4645]

2:02 it took me 20 seconds to recognize the guy with yellow hair was trump

[@catoelder4696]

Wonderful

[@ElBandito]

We need old comedy back. :D

[@ivanreiss]

Beautiful!! 👏👏

[@Firmus777]

This seems all nice and well, but to realize the dangers of praising Aristophanes' mockery one needs only to look at how terribly he misrepresented Socrates in The Clouds. He presented him as a sophist who is dangerous because he helps prove the most perverse of ideas, while in reality he was an enemy of the sophists and a great thinker of ethics. The reason why Socrates was chosen to be a character in the play was simply because of name recognition. Most comedians don't have pure intentions, they don't care about justice, they only care about being successful comedians and possibly having fun. They will mock corrupt politicians, but they will also mock those trying to do good. And while there is nothing wrong with having a laugh, I think there are better things to build progress on than poop jokes.

[@regalvas]

Agree about Socrates but disagree in the rest

[@SideshowCris]

I'd say it's pretty obvious that good work can endure good satire, since both Socrates' ideas and Aristophanes' poop jokes about those ideas survived to infuse and influence all of Western society and both continue to be taught and discussed daily even though it's been thousands of years. Maybe satire is only dangerous to bad ideas.

[@nicolasaristizabal1216]

Well, probably you're right, but you have to take into account that the most notable sources of Socrates's life are either His enemies or His highly close friends such as Plato. Have you ever considered that Sócrates might not have been that good?

[@drowlstine3496]

sometimes luapghter is the best medicine their are plenty of comics that make fun of people or things i like and even though i dont agree but i still luagh at the joke besides besides sometimes taking pure and inocent things and making the awful is part of the joke the best satires make fun of both sides equaly

[@Crypt0n1an]

My thoughts exactly, which is why I think that all jokes should be taken with a huge grain of salt. They are a good way of getting at a painful truth but they can also get things tragically wrong. Our job is to not take it all too seriously(as is their original intention) have fun with them and then if there is something of value to be extracted we do that carefully, if not, it's not the end of the world. The fate of the world does not hang on court jester's whim. Unfortunately in today's world our politicians are so bad and our media is so biased that we started looking to comedians for wisdom and the truth. BIG mistake, their primary job is to make us laugh and because comedy packs a bigger punch when there is a kernel of truth to it they do their best to touch on that. This doesn't mean that they should or even could replace serious journalism though. Hopefully the last 10-15 years since the old days of Jon Steward were a necessary correction in order to get the real journalists to get their act together. Remains to be seen if this will happen.

[@TheGoblinoid]

NICE ART!

[@rabukaxen9595]

2:03 “Arrogant politicians”: *proceeds by showing a guy that looks like trump*

[@gothnerd887]

2:53 I wish Lysistrata would come true

[@mindus5760]

2:54 This is sparta?!

[@amp-le4699]

Lysistrata

[@lazypops3117]

underrated

[@strawberryjam9145]

I like the voice of the guy doing the narration.

[@saniaqueen7343]

The funniest thing is that I was reading memes when I got the notification 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂👍🏻

[@kukalakana]

People are always looking for source material to make movies. They should use some Aristophanes. He's hilarious and every bit as relevant as old Mister Shakey.

[@boogywoogy32]

Yes

[@x.t553]

First

[@umbraanimo7767]

Its interesting to see this video the day after i beat assassins creed odyssey witch actually had you helping the play “the knights” in story and kill kelon

[@ayushsharma9270]

2:20 is that Trump...

[@SheepDog-hj4jx]

Yes indeed.

[@TomBaker-sb2ql]

I’m playing Aristophanes in a school play lol 😂

[@_voyager02]

But the real question is who is the mother of comedy?

[@4ltrz555]

ummm...... his wife?

[@LughSummerson]

Beans.

[@nolfavrell4244]

Yo mom

[@CharlesDickens111]

women are not very funny

[@Hobbnis]

@@CharlesDickens111 I hope you're joking because ohh boy you're about to get fire.

[@VictorFursov]

Hello members of TED-X! i have a question. These TED-X meetings are managed only for members of TED-X only and without tickets? Or these re meeting with special admisssion tickets?

[@frankydman]

it is a shame though, that for someone so important to the history of comedy, that only a fraction of his work survives (only 11 of his 36 plays still exist)

[@stuckonaslide]

the story of aristophanes is a perfect example of exactly why the freedom of speech and the freedom of expression are so important.

[@mihirbindal4012]

2:06 Oh hi Trump.

[@Matt-vh2ci]

Oh hi mark

[@alexsandroggfilho1697]

@@Matt-vh2ci Dang it! Someone already made that joke

[@thatonebee6095]

More "history vs" videos, please !

[@ameliagrady]

what an icon, this mans was alive in 420bc

[@algerianstudenthasmuchtosa630]

thank you very much

[@chessplayer6632]

At-if-tophi Arts-tophie Art-is-iffy Aristophanes

[@sharkygaming1877]

I have an idea for a video. Why doesn't Ted-Ed have 8m subscribers yet???

[@arhaikal7382]

Spongebob was the real father of comedy. He lived in the year of before comedy (b.c).

[@datkhornedog899]

Lol