Subscribe to Better off Read at https://betteroffread.substack.com
Anna and Kelly Pendergrast’s latest work is More Zeros and Ones a book they edited which is published by BWB. This book brings together essays from incredibly interesting thinkers and doers who write about environmental science, law and Te Tiriti o Waitangi and recent developments in technology. I just can’t recommend this book enough. I love this blurb from BWB:
Many of today’s digital technologies inadvertently amplify the power structures and prejudices of wider society. By examining the way digital tools and platforms are designed, built, and maintained, this BWB Text aims to identify how we can do better for everyone in Aotearoa.
Anna and Kelly are founders of Antistatic a research and communications consultancy like no other I’ve come across. I got to talk to Anna and Kelly, as Antistatic, last year about their part in the Flat Earthers exhibition/book/event. Still one of the best things I’ve ever done.
I was interested in talking to Anna and Kelly about humour and laughter for several reasons. Anna and Kelly’s work is often playful and because of this I think, is able to say some pretty profound things about some of the power structures that sit in technology. Also, Anna and Kelly do a lot of work in communications - taking very complex ideas and structuring them for different purposes. I was interested in how this deep knowledge of communication gives an insight into what makes us laugh.
Ann and Kelly brought the perfect ‘thing that made them laugh’ for this kind of conversation. The Laughter Lift is a segment on the Kermode & Mayo’s Take podcast. I loved the way this opened up a conversation about jokes and the social act of telling jokes. One of the things I loved talking about was that because we often share an idea of the structure of ‘the joke’ with the people are telling jokes to, even when the joke goes wrong it is still funny because it becomes a subversion of the form.
This gives me immense hope as I am practicing my ‘bit’ for the Verb After Hours - Beyond A Joke night Thursday 3 November, 8.30pm at Meow in Wellington. To which there are still tickets available. This is a shameless self-promotion but also, the folk who are appearing in this event are amazing!!
Ep 82: Sound Series 10 - Showcase with Sudha Rao
Ep 81: Sound Series 9 - Cassandra Barnett and Luke Buda
Ep 80: Sound Series 8 - Anna Smaill and David Long
Sounds Series - The Exercises
Ep 79: Sound Series 7 - Kerry Ann Lee and Jackson Nieuwland
Ep 78: Sound Series 6 - Carl Shuker and Simon Sweetman
Ep 77: Sound Series 5 - Brannavan Gnanalingam and Tokerau Wilson
Ep 76: Sound Series 4 - Sinead Overbye and Charlotte Forrester
Ep 75: Sounds Series 3 - Eamonn Marra and Cooki Aimee M
Ep 74: Sound Series 2 - Ruby Solly and Chris Tse
Ep 73 Sound Series 1 James Woods and Nick Ascroft
COMING SOON Better off Read: Sound Series
Ep 71 Sinead Overbye talks to Pip Adam about Bernadine Evaristo's novel 'Girl, Woman, Other'
Short Red: Exercise 26
Short Red: Exercises 25
Short Red: Exercises 24
Ep 71 Jackson Nieuwland talks to Pip Adam about Crispin Best's 'gently' and Jackson Nieuwland's 'I am a photographer.'
Short Red: Exercises 23
Short Red: Exercises 22
Short Red: Exercises 21
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
Lit Society: Books and Drama
Ex Libris
Write The Book: Conversations on Craft
Great Expectations
Anne of Avonlea
Fresh Air
Myths and Legends