La Cornette (farce)

La Cornette, in dramatic arts, specifically refers to a type of French farce prevalent primarily during the medieval and Renaissance periods. The term designates a specific comedic trope or character, and by extension, a play that heavily features this trope. "La Cornette" typically involves the figure of a nun or religious woman (wearing a cornette, the headdress) engaging in behavior that is scandalous, inappropriate, or otherwise mocking religious piety. This could include illicit love affairs, drunkenness, displays of greed, or general flouting of the vows and expectations associated with her religious position.

Farces utilizing the "La Cornette" element were intended to be highly satirical, often targeting the perceived hypocrisy or corruption within the Church and monastic orders. The humor derived from the sharp contrast between the woman's ostensible religious devotion and her decidedly unholy actions. These farces were often quite popular with audiences, as they offered a form of social commentary and cathartic release through laughter, challenging established authority figures and norms.

While the specific character or situation labeled "La Cornette" became somewhat standardized, different playwrights and performers would vary the particulars of the plot and humor. The focus, however, remained consistently on the subversion of religious expectations and the exploitation of the inherent comedic potential within the figure of a nun behaving badly. The genre declined with shifting societal attitudes towards religious satire, but remains a significant example of the satirical and often transgressive nature of medieval and Renaissance French theatre.