Characters
The Straight Character Is Not Always the Serious One
The straight character in comedy can sharpen absurdity without becoming a mouthpiece, helping writers give the role…
The complete collection
All articles
Explore writing on comic characters, satire, farce, parody and story structure. Each piece starts with a specific detail and follows what it lets us notice.
Satire
Lampoon or Parody: What Is the Joke Pointed At?
Lampoon or parody: learn to tell a comic attack from a borrowed style, so you can identify what a joke criticises and…
Farce
Mistaken Identity in Farce: How One Mix-Up Drives the Plot
Mistaken identity in farce turns a simple mix-up into legible theatrical action, showing how props, entrances and…
Parody
The Copycat Compliment: When Parody Loves Its Model
Learn how affectionate parody uses precise imitation, selective exaggeration and a clear comic turn to honour its…
Story
A Comedy Ending Without a Neat Bow
A comedy ending without a neat bow can leave a disagreement open while still delivering a clear final beat. Learn to…
Our point of view
A joke can be a way of seeing
Genuine Comedy Review looks beyond the laugh to the choices that make comedy work and the assumptions those choices bring into view.