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Parody vs. Burlesque — What's the Difference?

Difference Between Parody and Burlesque

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Definitions

Parody

A parody, also called a spoof, a send-up, a take-off, a lampoon, a play on (something), or a caricature, is a creative work designed to imitate, comment on, and/or make fun of its subject by means of satiric or ironic imitation. Often its subject is an original work or some aspect of it — theme/content, author, style, etc.

Burlesque

A burlesque is a literary, dramatic or musical work intended to cause laughter by caricaturing the manner or spirit of serious works, or by ludicrous treatment of their subjects. The word derives from the Italian burlesco, which, in turn, is derived from the Italian burla – a joke, ridicule or mockery.Burlesque overlaps in meaning with caricature, parody and travesty, and, in its theatrical sense, with extravaganza, as presented during the Victorian era.

Parody

A literary or artistic work that uses imitation, as of the characteristic style of an author or a work, for comic effect or ridicule.

Burlesque

A literary or dramatic work that makes fun of something, often by means of outlandish exaggeration.

Parody

A genre, as in literature, comprising such works.

Burlesque

A ludicrous or mocking imitation; a travesty
The antics of the defense attorneys turned the trial into a burlesque of justice.
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Parody

Something so bad as to be equivalent to intentional mockery; a travesty
The trial was a parody of justice.

Burlesque

A variety show characterized by broad ribald comedy, dancing, and striptease.

Parody

(Music) The practice of reworking an already established composition, especially the incorporation into the Mass of material borrowed from other works, such as motets or madrigals.

Burlesque

To imitate mockingly or humorously
"always bringing junk ... home, as if he were burlesquing his role as provider" (John Updike).

Parody

To make a parody of.

Burlesque

To use the methods or techniques of burlesque.
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Parody

A work or performance that imitates another work or performance with ridicule or irony.

Burlesque

(dated) Parodical; parodic

Parody

A popular maxim, adage, or proverb.

Burlesque

A derisive art form that mocks by imitation; a parody.

Parody

To make a parody of something.
The comedy movie parodied the entire Western genre.

Burlesque

A variety adult entertainment show, usually including titillation such as striptease, most common from the 1880s to the 1930s.

Parody

A writing in which the language or sentiment of an author is mimicked; especially, a kind of literary pleasantry, in which what is written on one subject is altered, and applied to another by way of burlesque; travesty.
The lively parody which he wrote . . . on Dryden's "Hind and Panther" was received with great applause.

Burlesque

A ludicrous imitation; a caricature; a travesty; a gross perversion.

Parody

A popular maxim, adage, or proverb.

Burlesque

To make a burlesque parody of.

Parody

To write a parody upon; to burlesque.
I have translated, or rather parodied, a poem of Horace.

Burlesque

To ridicule, or to make ludicrous by grotesque representation in action or in language.

Parody

A composition that imitates somebody's style in a humorous way

Burlesque

Tending to excite laughter or contempt by extravagant images, or by a contrast between the subject and the manner of treating it, as when a trifling subject is treated with mock gravity; jocular; ironical.
It is a dispute among the critics, whether burlesque poetry runs best in heroic verse, like that of the Dispensary, or in doggerel, like that of Hudibras.

Parody

Humorous or satirical mimicry

Burlesque

Ludicrous representation; exaggerated parody; grotesque satire.
Burlesque is therefore of two kinds; the first represents mean persons in the accouterments of heroes, the other describes great persons acting and speaking like the basest among the people.

Parody

Make a spoof of or make fun of

Burlesque

An ironical or satirical composition intended to excite laughter, or to ridicule anything.
The dull burlesque appeared with impudence,And pleased by novelty in spite of sense.

Parody

Make a parody of;
The students spoofed the teachers

Burlesque

A ludicrous imitation; a caricature; a travesty; a gross perversion.
Who is it that admires, and from the heart is attached to, national representative assemblies, but must turn with horror and disgust from such a profane burlesque and abominable perversion of that sacred institute?

Burlesque

To ridicule, or to make ludicrous by grotesque representation in action or in language.
They burlesqued the prophet Jeremiah's words, and turned the expression he used into ridicule.

Burlesque

To employ burlesque.

Burlesque

A theatrical entertainment of broad and earthy humor; consists of comic skits and short turns (and sometimes striptease)

Burlesque

A composition that imitates somebody's style in a humorous way

Burlesque

Make a parody of;
The students spoofed the teachers

Burlesque

Relating to or characteristic of a burlesque;
Burlesque theater

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