Evil laughter: Difference between revisions
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'''Evil laughter''' or '''maniacal laughter''' is a stock [[mania|manic]] [[laughter]] by a [[villain]] in [[fiction]]. The expression "evil laugh" dates back to at least 1860.<ref name=littell64_228/> "Wicked laugh" can be found even earlier, dating back to at least 1784.<ref name=burney1784/> Another variant, the "sardonic laugh" shows up in 1714 and might date back even further.<ref name=steele_addison1714/> |
'''Evil laughter''' or '''maniacal laughter''' is a stock [[mania|manic]] [[laughter]] by a [[villain]] in [[fiction]]. The expression "evil laugh" dates back to at least 1860.<ref name=littell64_228/> "Wicked laugh" can be found even earlier, dating back to at least 1784.<ref name=burney1784/> Another variant, the "sardonic laugh" shows up in 1714 and might date back even further.<ref name=steele_addison1714/> |
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In comic books, where [[supervillain]]s utter such laughs, it is variously rendered as ''mwahahaha'', ''muwhahaha'', ''muahahaha'', ''buahahaha'' ''bwuhuhuhaha'', etc. (Compare with ''[[Ho ho ho]]'').<ref name=zawacki_dignan2003/> These words are also commonly used on internet [[Blog]]s, [[Bulletin board system]]s, and games. There, they are generally used when some form of victory is attained, or to indicate [[superiority complex|superiority]] over someone else. The words are often used as |
In comic books, where [[supervillain]]s utter such laughs, it is variously rendered as ''mwahahaha'', ''muwhahaha'', ''muahahaha'', ''buahahaha'' ''bwuhuhuhaha'', etc. (Compare with ''[[Ho ho ho]]'').<ref name=zawacki_dignan2003/> These words are also commonly used on internet [[Blog]]s, [[Bulletin board system]]s, and games. There, they are generally used when some form of victory is attained, or to indicate [[superiority complex|superiority]] over someone else. The words are often used as [[interjection]]s, and less frequently as nouns. |
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"Evil laughter" is a commonly used adjective in novels as by saying "Evil laughter filled the room" or something to that effect creates a brilliant mental sound that everyone can immediately recognize as evil. By saying someone's laugh is "evil" you can immediately conjure up a mental image of that person and little other description is needed. Anyone can imagine someone evil, so not describing them makes the book more vivid and relate more to the reader. |
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During the 1930s, the popular radio program ''[[The Shadow]]'' used a signature evil laugh as part of its presentation. This was voiced by actor [[Frank Readick]], and his laugh was used even after [[Orson Welles]] took over the lead role.<ref name=mott2009/> The most recognizable and copied evil laugh is probably the one voiced by [[Vincent Price]],{{Citation needed|date=December 2010}} as it has been used or copied in radio, film, music, and television, notably in the end of the music video ''[[Michael Jackson's Thriller]]''. |
During the 1930s, the popular radio program ''[[The Shadow]]'' used a signature evil laugh as part of its presentation. This was voiced by actor [[Frank Readick]], and his laugh was used even after [[Orson Welles]] took over the lead role.<ref name=mott2009/> The most recognizable and copied evil laugh is probably the one voiced by [[Vincent Price]],{{Citation needed|date=December 2010}} as it has been used or copied in radio, film, music, and television, notably in the end of the music video ''[[Michael Jackson's Thriller]]''. |
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Revision as of 16:38, 5 April 2013
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (April 2011) |
Evil laughter or maniacal laughter is a stock manic laughter by a villain in fiction. The expression "evil laugh" dates back to at least 1860.[1] "Wicked laugh" can be found even earlier, dating back to at least 1784.[2] Another variant, the "sardonic laugh" shows up in 1714 and might date back even further.[3]
In comic books, where supervillains utter such laughs, it is variously rendered as mwahahaha, muwhahaha, muahahaha, buahahaha bwuhuhuhaha, etc. (Compare with Ho ho ho).[4] These words are also commonly used on internet Blogs, Bulletin board systems, and games. There, they are generally used when some form of victory is attained, or to indicate superiority over someone else. The words are often used as interjections, and less frequently as nouns.
During the 1930s, the popular radio program The Shadow used a signature evil laugh as part of its presentation. This was voiced by actor Frank Readick, and his laugh was used even after Orson Welles took over the lead role.[5] The most recognizable and copied evil laugh is probably the one voiced by Vincent Price,[citation needed] as it has been used or copied in radio, film, music, and television, notably in the end of the music video Michael Jackson's Thriller.
In films, evil laughter often fills the soundtrack even though the villain is off-camera. The laughter therefore follows the hero or victim as they try to escape. An example is in Raiders of the Lost Ark, where Belloq's laugh fills the South American jungle while Indiana Jones attempts to escape from the Hovitos.
Non-human characters such as King Ghidorah and Destoroyah from the Godzilla series can also have extremely unique and sinister laughs or laughter-like sounds.
References
- ^ Littell, Eliakim; Littell, Robert S.; Making of America Project (1860), "The Luck of Ladysmede, part X", Littell's The living age, 64, Littell, son & company: 228
- ^ Burney, Fanny (1784), Barrett, Charlotte (ed.), Diary and Letters of Madame D'Arblay: 1778 to 1784, Bickers and son, p. 279
- ^ Steele, Richard; Addison, Joseph (April 14, 1714), The Guardian, vol. 1, J. Tonson, p. 118
- ^ "How to be a villain: evil laughs, secret lairs, master plans, and more!!!", by Neil Zawacki, James Dignan, Chronicle Books, 2003, ISBN 0-8118-4666-0, p. 23
- ^ Mott, Robert L. (2009), The audio theater guide: vocal acting, writing, sound effects and directing for a listening audience, McFarland, ISBN 0-7864-4483-5