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3 things about Mark Fennell: ‘I’m a big geek, but Star Trek is important to me’ | Life and Style

M.Many years ago Marc Fennell started his career as a volunteer at Sydney community station FBi Radio. With a microphone and a minidisc and his recorder (early 2000s), he quickly fell in love with the art of interviewing. Decades later, Fennell still likes nothing more than sitting with other people, having conversations, and turning on the recorder.

In fact, that’s where his latest project began.On a trip to London, the media personality began interviewing people about the stolen artifacts. A podcast called Stuff the British Stole It quickly shot to the top of the iTunes charts. It was such a hit that ABC decided to turn Stuff the British Stole into his six-part television series, which began airing on Tuesday, November 1st at 8pm.

“The idea is every episode that takes an object in a museum or gallery and asks the question how did it get there? And those objects tell the story of the world left behind after the British Empire.” It becomes a vector that conveys,” explains Fennell. “I’m joking that it’s basically the opposite of Indiana Jones, who goes around the world saying, ‘This is a museum thing! ‘” And I’ll come and go with you, Is it really?

In this show, Fennell explores how objects such as the crown jewel diamonds, Palestinian mosaics and Aboriginal Canadian regalia came to British possessions. It’s a fun and interesting historical look. But for Fennell, Stuff the British Stole is also a way to change the way we think about the past. As he puts it, “I think there’s something really important about telling the story of an empire from the perspective of a colonized people.”

Using small objects to tell bigger stories is a tactic Fennell learned from his favorite childhood TV show, Star Trek. Here, he reveals why his sci-fi series spacecraft models are so important, as well as the stories surrounding other personal items.

What you can save from your home in a fire

We have an incredible cookbook collection in our home, hundreds of them. I found myself really busy during the lockdown which I didn’t manage well. So I wasn’t quite prepared to be stuck at home for months at a time. But cooking has become one of the only things that can clear my brain.

The funny thing about cookbook collections is that I have them, I see them, but I never follow them. I flipped through the pages and said, “Oh, I like the idea of ​​that.” Then just build something inspired by that cookbook. I don’t think I’ve followed a proper recipe in years.

It took me a long time to realize that cooking is a combination of creativity, not words. You can create something without the stories and hard facts that come with being a journalist.

This is one of the only ways I know how to deal with stress and anxiety.

my most useful object

my mic. For me, the mic is freedom. I use it for podcasts, I use it for work. And nothing makes me happier in the context of work than when I’m in front of a mic and listening.

Microphones are the most elegant way to capture people without being intrusive.that’s the difference [between podcasting and TV] – Just putting a mic between two people serves a purpose, but it doesn’t prevent that person from being who they really are. I think there’s something pretty magical about it.

The item you most regret losing

A Star Trek Starship Enterprise model my dad and I built together in 1997 – we moved house last year and I don’t know where. We created it as an activity to occupy our minds, but I associate it with our imagination and possibilities.

I grew up on Star Trek as well as science fiction and fantasy. And since I was a not-so-happy child, I remember how much I looked into a world constructed for optimism. I noticed that I was influenced by the Lek theme. The thing about Star Trek is that it’s often really shit – I swear it. And in the documentaries and podcasts I’m making now, I’m often looking for something with the same basic mechanics: small, quirky things where you can explore big ideas. I have.

Stuff the British Stole is this good in the sense that there are strange, ephemeral objects placed in museums and galleries that, when pulled, can tell a very big story about what happened to people throughout history. Here’s an example. Much of its storytelling approach can be traced back to watching Star Trek. Yes, that’s my way of saying I’m a big nerd, but Star Trek is important to me.

3 things about Mark Fennell: ‘I’m a big geek, but Star Trek is important to me’ | Life and Style

Source link 3 things about Mark Fennell: ‘I’m a big geek, but Star Trek is important to me’ | Life and Style

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