Winter 2022 History 115B

Worlds of Renaissance Italy

ESSAY II: Choose

Ambiguous jokes–? One way to understand a society’s values is to examine its humor—even when we do not find their jokes particularly funny.

Topic I: Source: Giovanni Sabadino degli Arienti," Friar and Priest." Analyse the trick played on Friar Puzzo. What was done to him? What aspects of contemporary culture were involved? (That is, what makes him a comic figure within the terms of the story?) What in your view made this comic in the Quattrocento?

OR

Topic 2: Source: Antonio Manetti, The Fat Woodcarver Analyze the trick played on Grasso. What was done to him? What aspects of contemporary culture were involved? (That is, what makes him a comic figure within the terms of the story? How does he differ from the people (including famous artists) who trick him? What techniques do they employ?) What in your view made this comic in the Quattrocento?

The essay should be 1500 words and a paper copy s due in class on February 25. Be sure to cite the source!