Characterization is a method of communication that seeks to personify an idea, a person, or a situation so that the audience can recognize it and learn more about it.
For example, the characterization of a table with four legs, brown in color, used to place objects on it or eat.
Characterization allows:
- Expressing the most relevant data so that users can navigate, understand, or position themselves through its demonstration, either visually or audibly.
- Creating persuasive strategies through visual tools such as animation, colors, or in the case of demonstration, through gestures or sounds.
- It’s not just about being fun or attractive; it’s about teaching, guiding the audience toward a message about what is being presented.
Examples of characterization
- Brochures: An animated description of a set of data for ministry users to understand the functions and location of an office. For instance, upon entering a ministry, there could be a characterization of the customer service office.
- Market Characterization: Identification through statistical bars or charts of potential audience, competition, sales agents, and market trends.
In schools, facilitators often use characterization based on the level of education. For example:
- For young children in preschool and early education, characterization is an effective method to convey messages in a humorous way. A facilitator might characterize a fierce wolf to illustrate negative actions.
- For secondary education, visual effects are key to grabbing attention. Therefore, audiovisuals, dramatizations, or the use of objects in classes will lead to better understanding.
- In university education, characterization is used in a more profound way by researching specific characteristics of a situation or person.
Other examples of characterization include:
- Theatrical productions: They use characterization as a prominent tool, studying the character, era, or situation they want to present. For instance, a president can be characterized.
- Specialized make-up: Characterization involves portraying a relevant person from history, such as Frida Kahlo, emphasizing physical features like eyebrows or skin color.
- Characterization involves deepening or expanding the study of objects, for example, using a microscope to characterize molecules.
- Short and feature films: They are important platforms for characterization, allowing the complete transmission of an idea by combining relevant aspects of many stories for a visually appealing result.
- Animations: They enable the characterization of real characters, adding human traits to objects, humans, and animals.