How To Make Trouble And Influence People
Encyclopedia
How To Make Trouble And Influence People (ISBN 0958554927) was the title of a self-published book from 1996 chronicling the history of political pranks and acts of creative subversion in Australia
. The book consists of a series of short paragraphs describing incidents, as well as facsimiles of flyers, posters and graffiti. It also includes an interview with Greg Wadley, author of the zine
Loser.
The incidents detailed in How To Make Trouble date from the early colonial days to recent times, and include both explicitly political and non-political pranks. They include industrial disputes in the 1920s, recent environmental and anti-war protests, as well as acts of inspired vandalism and detournement
. As such, this book can be said to be a testament to the larrikin
tradition of Australia, and its numerous manifestations throughout history.
Two sequels were released, How To Stop Whining And Start Living and Revenge Of The Troublemaker. All of these are attributed to the "Question Mark Collective". It is believed that one of the compilers was Iain McIntyre
. Copies of these books may possibly be found in anarchist
and countercultural bookshops in Australia.
The book influenced the production of the ABC Radio Background Briefing program on Culture Jamming: How To Make Trouble And Influence People, broadcast in 1998 and also featured in Head Space No 4, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's monthly Arts and Culture Magazine.
A collected and expanded version of all three of the original publications, titled "How to Make Trouble and Influence People: Pranks, Hoaxes, Graffiti and Mischief-making from across Australia" (ISBN 9780980415117) has been collated by Iain McIntyre and Breakdown Press for release in October 2009. The 276 page book includes expanded historical listings, over 300 photographs and 14 interviews with Australian trouble makers.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. The book consists of a series of short paragraphs describing incidents, as well as facsimiles of flyers, posters and graffiti. It also includes an interview with Greg Wadley, author of the zine
Zine
A zine is most commonly a small circulation publication of original or appropriated texts and images. More broadly, the term encompasses any self-published work of minority interest usually reproduced via photocopier....
Loser.
The incidents detailed in How To Make Trouble date from the early colonial days to recent times, and include both explicitly political and non-political pranks. They include industrial disputes in the 1920s, recent environmental and anti-war protests, as well as acts of inspired vandalism and detournement
Detournement
A détournement is a technique developed in the 1950s by the Letterist International, and consist in "turning expressions of the capitalist system against itself." Détournement was prominently used to set up subversive political pranks, an influential tactic called situationist prank that was...
. As such, this book can be said to be a testament to the larrikin
Larrikinism
Larrikinism is the name given to the Australian folk tradition of irreverence, mockery of authority and disregard for rigid norms of propriety. Larrikinism can also be associated with self-deprecating humour.- Etymology :...
tradition of Australia, and its numerous manifestations throughout history.
Two sequels were released, How To Stop Whining And Start Living and Revenge Of The Troublemaker. All of these are attributed to the "Question Mark Collective". It is believed that one of the compilers was Iain McIntyre
Iain McIntyre
Iain McIntyre is an Australian musician and writer.Originally from Perth, he relocated to Melbourne in 1992, where he played in The Sea Haggs with fellow Perth expatriate Laura Macfarlane. In 1996, he joined Macfarlane's new band ninetynine...
. Copies of these books may possibly be found in anarchist
Anarchism
Anarchism is generally defined as the political philosophy which holds the state to be undesirable, unnecessary, and harmful, or alternatively as opposing authority in the conduct of human relations...
and countercultural bookshops in Australia.
The book influenced the production of the ABC Radio Background Briefing program on Culture Jamming: How To Make Trouble And Influence People, broadcast in 1998 and also featured in Head Space No 4, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's monthly Arts and Culture Magazine.
A collected and expanded version of all three of the original publications, titled "How to Make Trouble and Influence People: Pranks, Hoaxes, Graffiti and Mischief-making from across Australia" (ISBN 9780980415117) has been collated by Iain McIntyre and Breakdown Press for release in October 2009. The 276 page book includes expanded historical listings, over 300 photographs and 14 interviews with Australian trouble makers.
External links
- Excerpts from the book, arranged by state. Archived copy of website (archive.org). from 5 March 2005. Accessed 23 August 2007.