Final answer:
Aristophanes, known as the 'Father of Comedy,' was a comic playwright who used satire to critique politics and culture through forms like burlesque, farce, and pantomime.
Step-by-step explanation:
Aristophanes, a comic playwright, is often referred to as the 'Father of Comedy' and was known for his critical and satirical portrayal of new politics and cultural practices. As a conservative artist, he utilized forms such as burlesque, farce, and pantomime to create plays with a serious intent, underlying his humorous delivery. In his play 'The Clouds', Aristophanes famously criticized the Sophists, a group of public speakers and educators in ancient Greece, through a character named Socrates who was whimsically associated with Sophist teachings, which caused some viewers to mistakenly equate the real Socrates with the philosophies he vigorously critiqued.
Aristophanes was adept at blending folk traditions with the contemporary politics of his day to shape Greek old comedy. His works have endured as a rich source of historical and cultural criticism, with 'Lysistrata' being a prime example where he deployed satire to comment on the social and political issues surrounding war, as Athenian women initiate a sex strike to force their husbands to cease conflict.