Comments on: Pecha Kucha Dublin

By: markhamnolan

markhamnolan — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 08:11:07 +0000

@Eoin Your sister’s presentation was good alright. I did feel sorry for the two of them having to go first – which is probably why I didn’t comment on their bit. Shame on me for that, but they did themselves proud, no doubt.

I must say, I really miss Mongrel. It would be nigh on impossible for it to survive in the ‘current climate’ (vomit) but it was great while it lasted. I had one bit appear in it – on meeting Bob Geldof completely by chance in Mali.

It appeared in one of the Cunts List issues, which had a friend’s uncle (RTE Radio 1, 10am -12pm weekdays) on the cover. So, that went down well.

By: Eoin Butler

Eoin Butler — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 20:53:53 +0000

Apologies for coming late to this Markham, but I was having a read of your blog and happened to stumble upon this post.

Re: Conor + David.
Agreed totally. Assuming they were the second pair on, only one of whom actually spoke, then their presentation was slick, funny and insightful. Kudos to them, they were very entertaining.

Next best, I thought, were Jo Anne Butler and Tara Kennedy, who were similarly thoughtful and insightful. Admittedly, Jo Anne is my sister, but I thought that, alone among the remaining presentations, their’s actually got me considering issues and ideas I hadn’t previously considered.

Re: Will St. Ledger
A slight dissapointment. Rosa Parks, Stonewall Riots etc. laudable, but hardly earth-shattering, choices as seminal influences.

Re: Thinkhouse PR
Well, if their brief was to convince a roomful of stranger that they were a pair of vacuous idiots, I don’t think they could have used those six minutes to more devastating effect.

Finally, re: Cian Hallinan (and this is the real reason I’m posting this).
I’ve got to say that His Ulysses v PS I Love You bit really was spookily similar to a feature I wrote in Mongrel Magazine in June 2004, to mark the 100th anniversary of Bloomsday. His executed the idea differently, but the concept was absolutely identical. I’m not looking to go to the mattresses over this or anything. I don’t know the guy, but I know his sister and she’s a really nice girl.

But I did want to register some protest, however small.

By: Dara

Dara — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 14:24:55 +0000

Good summary of a good night.
I’m with you on Thinkhouse, who put the PR in prat.
As a first effort, I think it was good, in that it entertained and provoked a bit of real thought. But I do hope the next one sticks a little more closely to the brief.
I don’t necessarily think that the presentation of a person’s introspection/take on a specific topic is navel-gazing…that’s the whole point of Pecha Kucha. Stray off the given PK brief, in slideshow format, and you’re a performer…off to Billy Barry with ye!

By: Chris

Chris — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 09:23:38 +0000

Was jus having a wee look around the web for reactions to Pecha Kucha and I reckon that you’re spot on with your summary there in terms of the highlights…and the Thinkhouse people, I simultaneously felt embarrassed for them and extremely irritated by them. It was especially astounding given that they are a PR company, you would have to be batshit insane to hire them if you saw that carry on.

By: markhamnolan

markhamnolan — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 11:39:14 +0000

I’ll try to be at the next one, too. I wouldn’t call Thinkhouse’s bit a ‘prank’, any more than a child making a mess to gain attention is a prankster. But hey, I am but one man…

By: HughC

HughC — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 18:33:34 +0000

I understand what you mean by some of the contributions being off-brief however I found the Thinkhouse prank hilarious, as well as Cian Hallinan & Giselle. The event would have run the danger of being somewhat navel-gazy otherwise and for a first outing, I thought it was well worth the fiver. It’s all about balance.

I’d go again. Heck! I’d definitely go again