2003, 10 x 5-6 minute episodes

Education, Sex, Finance, Global, Art, Media, Medicine, Brain, Law, Government

Academy Award winning animator Bruce Petty takes a satirical look at the "contraptions" that shape our lives. Education, sex, finance, globalism, art, media, medicine, law, government and even the brain are transformed by Petty into evolving machines. Beginning with a simple concept, he takes us on an anarchic journey through history as each apparatus builds to its complex contemporary form. In the wry, ironic style that is his hallmark, Petty reveals these to be contraptions of a very human kind - imperfect, sometimes unpredictable and always subject to change. A witty, provocative and entertaining series, narrated by Andrew Denton.

A Film Australia National Interest Program. Produced with the assistance of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

Classification: PG. Consumer advice: Sexual references, adult themes.

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Available as a 10-episode compile DVD in PAL format only.

Stefan Moore, Anna Grieve

Deborah Szapiro

Bruce Petty

Bruce Petty

Andrew Denton

Level: Secondary, Tertiary, Lifelong Learning

Curriculum links include English, Media Studies, Studies of Society and Environment, History, Politics, Cultural Studies, Music, Drama and Australian Studies. Levels: from middle secondary to tertiary.

 Human Contraptions notes (Acrobat PDF Document, 900Kb)

Human Contraptions at ABC Online
National Museum of Australia Resources: Laughing With Knives - exploring poltical cartoons
The Age - Bruce Petty Profile

Bruce Petty Collection, The, Magic Arts, The