Stock character

A stock character is a fictional character that relies heavily on cultural types or stereotypes for its personality, manner of speech, and other characteristics. Stock characters are instantly recognizable to members of a given culture. Because of this, a frequent device of both comedy and parody is to wildly exaggerate the expected mannerisms of stock characters.

Related Topics:
Fictional character - Stereotypes - Comedy - Parody

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Stock characters in the western tradition originate from the theatres of ancient Greece and Rome, and, somewhat more recently, from the Italian Commedia Dell'arte.

Related Topics:
Greece - Rome - Commedia Dell'arte

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In the United States, courts have determined that copyright protection can not be extended to the characteristics of stock characters in a story, whether it be a book, play, or film. Nichols v. Universal Pictures Corporation, 45 F.2d 119 (2d Cir. 1930).

Related Topics:
United States - Court - Copyright - Book - Play - Film - Nichols v. Universal Pictures Corporation - 45 F.2d 119 - 2d Cir. - 1930

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