Choose a novel which you have read, preferably one that would be well-known by the general public, and consider how it could be satirised in the way we have discussed the makers of “The Simpsons” appropriate famous texts.
Write a submission to the makers of “The Simpsons”, “Family Guy” or “South Park” to present your ideas for an episode. Include a brief 3-4 sentence synopsis of the main storyline of the original text, followed by 2-3 sentences which outline the major themes which your episode would focus on. (10 marks)
2. Continue activity #1 and design a storyboard of about 20 frames outlining your episode. You can only do this exercise if you have already submitted activity #1 for comment/marking. (15 marks).
“CNNNN” was a satirical programme by The Chaser which parodied the 24hour news channels. Imagine that the programme was to be resurrected. Consider ONE current news topic (within the last month) and write the script which the newsreader would give from behind the desk. Include at least one live cross to a reporter “on the spot”. You do not have to read out the segment, but as a guide to required length it should last for 1.5 – 2 minutes when read. (15 marks)
4. Once you have completed activity #3 and submitted it for marking, you can act out the segment, using PowerPoint to create suitable backdrops for the newsreader and the live cross to the on-the-spot reporter. (15 marks)
5. Write a satirical poem about school life. A poem of up to 12 lines is worth 10 marks; a poem up to 20 lines is worth 15 marks.
6. We briefly discussed in class why it is that some topics seem to be off-limits to satire (The Holocaust, 9/11, Islam etc), although that is not to say they are NEVER satirised. Choose a topic which you believe should not be satirised, and use it to write a speech to be given at a Public Speaking Competition. Your speech should last about 2 minutes when read – you do not have to give the speech, simply write it. (15 marks)
7. Convert your written speech to notes on palm cards and present it to the class. (10 marks)
8. You have been invited to design the cover for a handbook to be given to Year 9 students studying Satire. The brief requests that the cover has a montage containing definitions, famous satirical comments, caricatures, and at least one satirical cartoon. Put forward your design. (5 marks)
9. Write a submission as to why your favourite satirical television show should be shown to the class. Your submission should include a brief synopsis of the plot, and a listing of all the elements of society which are parodied in the episode, as well as a listing, with examples, of techniques used. If your submission is chosen (assuming the programme is of a suitable censorship rating and is available on DVD or on-line) we will watch it together in class. (5 marks)
10. Design a worksheet, suitable for Year 9 students, which could be completed after viewing your suggested programme. It must have at least 5 short answer/multiple choice questions; 2 questions which require 3-4 sentence responses; a research question (such as the history of satire in English literature) which requires at least a paragraph response. (5 marks)
11. GROUP PRESENTATION – 4 STUDENTS
Many families do not allow shows like “The Simpsons” to be watched because they are seen by some parents to be almost subversive, teaching incorrect moral values and showing bad examples of behaviour to the young. As a group, script a dinner party discussion between two parents who are against allowing their pre-teen children to watch shows like this, and two other parents who feel there is much to be gained by allowing their pre-teen children to view it. Use example from actual episodes of the show. You must present this interesting dinner party conversation to the class and it should last for about 2-3 minutes. (15 marks – this is the total for both writing and presenting)
SATIRE
PERSONAL CHOICE WORKSHEET
Instructions:
· Choose a range of activities which you feel you can do well.
· The chosen activities must add up to 50 marks.
· Submit each activity as it is completed.
1. The use of appropriation and intertextuality in satire:
Choose a novel which you have read, preferably one that would be well-known by the general public, and consider how it could be satirised in the way we have discussed the makers of “The Simpsons” appropriate famous texts.
Write a submission to the makers of “The Simpsons”, “Family Guy” or “South Park” to present your ideas for an episode. Include a brief 3-4 sentence synopsis of the main storyline of the original text, followed by 2-3 sentences which outline the major themes which your episode would focus on. (10 marks)
2. Continue activity #1 and design a storyboard of about 20 frames outlining your episode. You can only do this exercise if you have already submitted activity #1 for comment/marking. (15 marks).
3. You may do activity 3 and 4 with a partner:
“CNNNN” was a satirical programme by The Chaser which parodied the 24hour news channels. Imagine that the programme was to be resurrected. Consider ONE current news topic (within the last month) and write the script which the newsreader would give from behind the desk. Include at least one live cross to a reporter “on the spot”. You do not have to read out the segment, but as a guide to required length it should last for 1.5 – 2 minutes when read. (15 marks)
4. Once you have completed activity #3 and submitted it for marking, you can act out the segment, using PowerPoint to create suitable backdrops for the newsreader and the live cross to the on-the-spot reporter. (15 marks)
5. Write a satirical poem about school life. A poem of up to 12 lines is worth 10 marks; a poem up to 20 lines is worth 15 marks.
6. We briefly discussed in class why it is that some topics seem to be off-limits to satire (The Holocaust, 9/11, Islam etc), although that is not to say they are NEVER satirised. Choose a topic which you believe should not be satirised, and use it to write a speech to be given at a Public Speaking Competition. Your speech should last about 2 minutes when read – you do not have to give the speech, simply write it. (15 marks)
7. Convert your written speech to notes on palm cards and present it to the class. (10 marks)
8. You have been invited to design the cover for a handbook to be given to Year 9 students studying Satire. The brief requests that the cover has a montage containing definitions, famous satirical comments, caricatures, and at least one satirical cartoon. Put forward your design. (5 marks)
9. Write a submission as to why your favourite satirical television show should be shown to the class. Your submission should include a brief synopsis of the plot, and a listing of all the elements of society which are parodied in the episode, as well as a listing, with examples, of techniques used. If your submission is chosen (assuming the programme is of a suitable censorship rating and is available on DVD or on-line) we will watch it together in class. (5 marks)
10. Design a worksheet, suitable for Year 9 students, which could be completed after viewing your suggested programme. It must have at least 5 short answer/multiple choice questions; 2 questions which require 3-4 sentence responses; a research question (such as the history of satire in English literature) which requires at least a paragraph response. (5 marks)
11. GROUP PRESENTATION – 4 STUDENTS
Many families do not allow shows like “The Simpsons” to be watched because they are seen by some parents to be almost subversive, teaching incorrect moral values and showing bad examples of behaviour to the young. As a group, script a dinner party discussion between two parents who are against allowing their pre-teen children to watch shows like this, and two other parents who feel there is much to be gained by allowing their pre-teen children to view it. Use example from actual episodes of the show. You must present this interesting dinner party conversation to the class and it should last for about 2-3 minutes. (15 marks – this is the total for both writing and presenting)
