Curious and Inquisitive Minds Challenged
The University of Southern Queensland’s Twilight Series will continue with a quirky discussion of ideas, exploration of the origins of our language and entertaining deconstruction of everyday topics this month (8 August).
Based on the popular local ABC Southern Queensland radio segment, Think Twice, the Twilight Think Twice Talk will be hosted by ABC's Belinda Sanders together with USQ's Andrew Mason (Media Studies), Laurie Johnson (English Literature) and Rebecca Te'o (Journalism).
“While there are plenty of big issues to think about, many of the everyday things around us are the product of amazing stories and innovation or remarkable twists of history,” said Andrew Mason.
Toward the end of 2010, Andrew approached Belinda with a rough idea for a radio segment which would spark inquisitive minds and get listeners thinking.
From this idea, the popular fortnightly Think Twice segment evolved; discussing and deconstructing things we take for granted in everyday life and exploring their history, concepts and ideas related to them.
“Belinda particularly wanted the segment to have the feel of an animated discussion among friends with the radio audience taken along as a vicarious participant in the banter.
“She came up with the name Think Twice; the perfect description for the concept of taking something ordinary and often overlooked and asking ‘I wonder why or how ...’.
The first episode of Think Twice aired in February 2011 and quickly developed a strong following.
“Over the segments, we have discussed a great variety of topics – starting with the word ‘onion’ in our very first broadcast.
“The topic ‘blue’ was a particularly good one; we found we could talk about so many things - the colour, why the sky appears blue, emotions, the use of blue to create certain emotions in advertising and building design, the blues as a music genre, blue movies, blue humour and girls wear pink and boys wear blue (which we found out was originally the other way around).
“We also found that the ancient Romans had no word for grey instead, they just saw grey as a darker green or darker blue!
“When we looked into ‘coat hanger’ we discovered it was invented in the late 19th/early 20th century - which posed the question - what did people hang their coats on before then? coat hooks! – they did exist and that’s exactly what people used.
“We just start with a common word and work from there – and as there are about 615 000 words in the Oxford English Dictionary (more than French and German combined) - we should be able to keep going for some time.”
While the actual topics of discussion for the Twilight Think Twice Talk are a closely guarded secret until the night, the audience can expect a lively discussion.
“We’ve chosen a range of quirky tit-bits about everyday things we usually take for granted - things that you might not normally think twice about.
“The audience will get to hear our different perspectives on each topic and also have the chance to trip us up and stump the panel.”
The Twilight Think Twice Talk will be presented on Wednesday 8 August at 6pm in the USQ Arts Theatre.
Tickets are $18.50 adult, $15.50 concession, $12.50 student, $8.50 child and can be purchased through the USQ Artsworx Box Office on 07 4631 1111 or at the door on the night.
This event is proudly sponsored by the ABC Southern Queensland.