Class Type Online, 1-on-1 Experience
Dates  Open
Times Open
Location Wherever you are!
Instructor Mike Funt
Cost $499 (discounts for previous Clown School participants)

sat·ire | /ˈsaˌtī(ə)r/: the use of humor, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and criticize the stupidity or vices of an individual or society

Satire--as a technique to lampoon foolishness and corruption--has pervaded culture for centuries, utilizing humor as a weapon, to speak truth to power, to protest the unjust, and to hold a mirror to society. This new Certificate Program offered by The Clown School will help performers write and develop their own satirical characters for performance through improvisation, writing prompts, and performance of scripted material. We will also explore the work of great theatrical satirists of the past such as Moliére, Oscar Wilde, and Commedia dell’Arte all the way up through Stephen Colbert and Sasha Baron Cohen. 

There are 10 units total, all of which are done at your own pace. You will meet virtually with the instructor several times during the course for private dedicated sessions. There will be some project and preparation work between meetings. It's super flexible, fun and personalized. At the end of the journey, you will receive a Certificate of Completion from us. 

The Curriculum:

• Unit 1 - Introduction to Satire: we will answer questions like “What is satire?”

• Unit 2 - The Human Condition: an exploration of medieval jesters, buffon, and Commedia dell’Arte as raw depictions of humanity’s flaws;

• Unit 3 - The Very Idea: an examination of how satire can be used to expose and criticize societal institutions like religion, social status, etc.; 

• Unit 4 - Truth to Power: a look at the work of writers and performers such as Moliére, Oscar Wilde, and Charlie Chaplin to examine

• Unit 5 - Satirizing the Conventional: Dame Edna, Archie Bunker, The Target Lady, Homer Simpson, JP Sears, all examples of how satire can be used to caricature everyday life and mock the status quo. Students will delve into their personal lives to find inspiration for satirical characters;

• Unit 6 - The High Status Idiot: Performers like Steve Martin, Stephen Colbert, and Ricky Gervais have made careers creating personas with the perspective of the high status. We will explore how status plays a role in creating satirical characters.

• Unit 7 - The Three Types of Satire: an exploration of the three types of satire. Horationa, Juvenalian, and Minippean.

• Unit 8 - Finding Your Voice: You will explore your own values and begin to develop your own voice by answering questions like “What roles can satire play in our culture as both entertainment and political activism?” and “How can I use satire to produce measurable change?”

• Unit 9 - Developing a Final Project: You will write and create a final satirical piece. 

• Unit 10 - Performance: Performance of your final project in front of an audience. 

Ages 18 and older.

Prerequisite: None. All experience levels welcome!