〈개그콘서트:생활의 발견〉의 웃음코드 분석

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

‘The Discovery of Life’ is the main and longest-running piece in KBS(Korean Broadcasting System)’s Gag Concert . There are two main core elements that provoke laughter in the Discovery of Life: The first one is its contradictory narrative structure, or the use of contradictory texts by distorting themes and circumstances; The second is ‘conflicts in context’ that look like a series of coincidence, or ‘decontextualization’.
Meanwhile, there is a ritual of parting between two lovers: one person always wants to break up with the other, who always tries to avoid the situation; one rejects and the other begs; the two can never reach an agreement; then there comes the catastrophe and the final parting. These two narratives conflict against each other and generate laughter. The two worlds are utter coincidences and therefore, can be independent episodes when separated: but they conflict in context and hence can trigger laughter.
Contradictory text and decontextualization are the biggest features of laughter in the Discovery of Life. However, the two elements only are not enough to generate the ultimate laughter. No element can exert its full power unless the whole piece is well made. The Discovery of Life has a power of sincerity or the ‘power of detai’: it portrays probable day-to-day events in a detailed and delicate manner.
Another element is ‘going borderless’, using guest stars. The Discovery of Life invites a guest star from other genres than comedy for every episode and present them as a whole new character, making people laugh by his or her newness, with the help of sing, acting, and whatever form of performance they can use.