Your Comic Perspective
Finding a comic perspective is a primary part of building character profiles. I've helped hundreds of personalities through the process and this is usually one of the biggest challenges. Some don't think they're funny. Others think comedy is about finding great punchlines. But that's not the point. A comic perspective isn’t just finding jokes and repeating them.
A comic perspective is a unique way of looking at the world, often through a lens of irony, satire, or wit. This viewpoint enables a character to explore complex or serious topics in a lighthearted manner, making it more palatable and enjoyable for the audience.
Developing a comic perspective involves honing the ability to see humor in everyday situations and crafting a distinct voice that resonates with an audience. When you find your comic perspective, you will find new ways to be funnier than you ever thought possible.
How To Be Funny
John Vorhaus is a consultant and author specializing in developing funny characters. He describes a comic perspective as how a character looks at the world in a way that others don’t share.
For example, in The Big Bang Theory, Sheldon's comic perspective is, "I’m smarter than you." Married With Children character Al Bundy’s was: "I’m Suffering."
A comedic perspective can be expressed in a short sentence or a detailed explanation of the absurd way you see the world and it is almost always discovered through your quirks.
That's why there's such an emphasis on quirks and flaws in the character branding profile process in my course.
Shortcuts are not a replacement for a full character brand profile, but it may help you develop an even more dynamic profile!
- Tracy Johnson
Finding Your Comic Perspective
The entire world is a setup for someone who is trained to see the humor in life around them. Some topics are naturally funny, while others need a trigger. That trigger is often the root of comedy, which actually stems from cruelty. Think of how many times you laugh at a character in an awkward scenario because you can relate to the character’s flaws or quirks that caused the situation.
That’s why self-deprecating humor is effective. The audience doesn’t have to feel sorry for a victim because the cruelty is self-inflicted. Quirks and flaws are targets for teasing or playful joking. Embracing or “owning” those flaws makes it safe to laugh at the cruelty of the joke. It creates distance because “they’re okay with it”.
Ultimately, the audience sympathizes with the character with a feeling that, "I like her because she is always getting in trouble defending her kids for something stupid they did. It’s hilarious."
The opposite quality closes the gap between the audience and the character, causing them to care, which in turn adds depth and longevity.
This is how audiences fall in love with you.
Balancing Flaws And Humanity
Both humanity and flaws are important. Balancing the two creates tension and sometimes conflict. Relieving the tension results in funny moments.
In a workshop, Vorhaus challenged his audience to develop a character in less than 30 minutes, starting with a single character trait. An audience member shouted, “Naive”.
Here’s how he developed it:
Potential Flaws: gullible, simple, uneducated, overly happy, overly kind, too trusting, and easy to take advantage of.
Potential Humanity Traits: happy, content, generous, emotional, loving, spontaneous, and uncomplicated.
Notice how the traits define opposite ends of a similar characteristic. Audiences love a personality for being kind (humanity) but laugh when he or she is overly kind (flaw).
The next step is to bring the traits to life by exaggerating them. A character that is a little naive or slightly arrogant isn’t funny, memorable, or likable. They're just annoying. The traits must go to the extreme.
Here’s how to bring it to life:
Each example from a scene in the show is likely to be an exaggeration in an otherwise ordinary situation.
Conclusion
A strong comic perspective requires you to be self-aware on a personal level and in the creative process. Explore your flaws, insecurities, and experiences when building your character profile, then learn to use them when creating content.
Like any skill, developing a comic perspective requires patience and persistence, but it’s an integral part of building a profile with a sense of humor.
For details on how to build a 5-Star Character Brand profile, check out the full self-guided on-demand course with all the tools and resources to fully develop your personality here.
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