From the very first time I heard Andrew Denton talking about his idea for the ABC TV program “Enough Rope”1 I knew it would be compulsory viewing at my place. It was similar to a US TV network journalist who chooses a town and then randomly picks a name out of the local phone book and phones to talk about doing a story on the equivalent of ʻA Current Affairʼ or 20/20 styled program. Oprah once asked this guy to randomly pick an audience member and he unearthed a Nigerian refugee medical student hoping to return to Africa and contribute back into his home community.
Dentonʼs original idea revolved around the audience survey they fill in booking tickets online where every so often a person is chosen to share their story and this would be the show. In development they realised that people might need some well known guests to tune in but they wouldnʼt just be on the latest book or movie tour.
In one recent episode Phil Jamieson the lead singer of Aussie band ʻGrinspoonʼ gave an amazing interview about his recent addiction to crystal meth or ʻice.ʼ A remarkably fragile and powerful story as illustrated by the acoustic performance of a new song called “Minute by Minute” and the studio outtake left in the program. [view the clip at www.youtube.com/watch?v=6iCR5cecZtQ]
Of course there are lots of different kinds of stories and sometimes they just make us laugh!
Regular listeners to weekend ABC radio 702 in Sydney will be familiar with the 10-11am DIY phone in with “The Weekend Woodies.” Of the three or four categories of caller the funniest are those with the cheapest and most dodgy method who call in the hope the chippies will endorse their plan. Better still are the now collected and published anecdotes known as “Boofhead of the Week2.” My favourite is probably the bloke who was fed up with his TV reception and decided to climb on the roof and adjust the aerial himself. Aware of OH& S he knew a safety harness was required. Lashing a rope to his four wheel drive he throws the rope over the house and climbs a ladder onto the sloping roof at the rear of the house.
Safely anchored he spends some time sorting things out. Meanwhile his wife realised morning tea would require milk and fresh bread. She jumps in the four wheel drive and heads to the shops. By all reports he hit the ground on the front footpath.
Download the entire essay: “The Pursuit of Happyness” Stories and Storytelling as Best Practice by Rob Hanks (pdf)
About the Author:
Rob Hanks is Youth Worker with over twenty five years experience in attempting to explore and access music, films and other mainstream creative arts in helping people discover, express and grow faith. He is currently working as the NSW Synod Youth Unit Coordinator for the Uniting Church in Australia.
Rob’s recent projects include: “Worship Unplugged” a resource to promote creative participation in worship including 150+ simple ideas; the “Meaningful Soles” art space of collected pairs of shoes and their story; AND exploring stories through the ‘Enough Rope’ principle that everyone has a story to tell and is worth hearing.
These skills are currently being honed at the expense or pleasure of daughters Lucy aged 6 and Ellie aged 3 hearing and readings stories from ‘Who’s Poo?’ to ‘The Adventures of Jumping Jack Flanagan’ which are made up nightly on the spot! Describing himself as a ‘lethargic academic’ Rob is interested in context, conversation, good food and humour. There is absolutely no truth to the rumour he is Australia’s biggest ‘Midnight Oil’ tragic or knows way too much about the worlds biggest rock band ‘U2’.
Check out Rob’s blog: www.pumphouse.blogspot.com
About djwright
