Techniques for Developing Satirical Characters in Literary and Media Writing
Course Introduction:
Satirical characters are one of the key elements that add a distinctive charm and appeal to literary and media texts. These characters help present social and political critique in a clever and humorous way. In this course, we will explore techniques for building and developing satirical characters that are effective and impactful in conveying ideas and concepts in an engaging and entertaining manner.
Course Objective:
The goal of this course is to equip participants with the ability to develop distinctive and strong satirical characters that can influence readers and deliver critique indirectly. We will focus on how to create satirical characters suitable for various types of literary and media texts while maintaining a balance between humour and the underlying message.
Who Should Attend:
- Aspiring writers looking to improve their skills in building satirical characters.
- Journalists and content creators who want to add a humorous dimension to their media work.
- Authors interested in using satirical characters to present social or political critique.
- Anyone interested in satirical writing and eager to learn how to develop characters in this genre.
Course Contents:
Day 1: Introduction to Satirical Characters
- What is a satirical character?
- The role of satirical characters in literary and media writing.
- Analysis of famous satirical characters in literature and media.
- Differences between satirical characters and other character types.
Day 2: Building the Satirical Character
- Characteristics of an effective satirical character.
- How to create a satirical character from events and situations.
- Writing a backstory for the character: motivations, goals, and obstacles.
- Practical exercises on building a satirical character from scratch.
Day 3: Dialogue and Behavior in Satirical Characters
- How to write satirical dialogues suited to the character.
- The behaviours and comedic style that distinguish a satirical character.
- How to ensure humorous dialogue contributes to character and story development.
- Workshops on writing satirical dialogues.
Day 4: Using Satirical Characters in Media Writing
- How to use satirical characters in journalism and media programs.
- Famous examples of influential satirical media characters.
- How to integrate critical and political messages into satirical texts.
- Writing a media article using a satirical character.
Day 5: Developing the Satirical Character with Audience Interaction
- How to develop a satirical character based on audience feedback.
- How to use social media to enhance audience engagement with the character.
- Examples of satirical characters that gained popularity through social media.
- Practical application: Writing a complete text featuring a satirical character and presenting it to peers for critique.
Course Outcomes:
By the end of the course, participants will be able to:
- Understand the role of satirical characters in literature and media and their influence on audiences.
- Build strong and expressive satirical characters that serve the story or critical message.
- Write satirical dialogues and behaviours that stem from the character’s nature and development.
- Effectively use satirical characters in media texts.
- Develop characters based on audience interaction to improve their impact and reach.
