Rodney Marks
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Rodney Marks (1956-), is an Australian comedian. Marks satirises bureaucracy by impersonating experts of either sex and varied ethnicity and occupation. He has professionally performed for hundreds of corporations, government departments, universities and other organisations in Australasia and the USA. In his hoaxes, Marks allows tension to rise as he usurps power by making authoritative, vexatious statements. Then he reveals his identity, to the relief of the audience. Marks combines formidable knowledge of management jargon with a relaxed improvisational style and a warm, persuasive personality. He studied theatre at the University of New England in 1977-79 and worked as an actor, director, academic, management consultant and arts administrator before he became a full-time comedian in 1991. Meanwhile he had gained master's degrees in business administration and public administration, the latter from Harvard University. Marks returned to Harvard as artist-in-residence in 1995 and hoaxed academics, students and experienced managers.
He had had subsequent appointments as artist-in-residence at the Australian Graduate School of Management (in 2000-01), the University of New England (in 2001-02), the Macquarie Dictionary (in 2002-03), and the University of New South Wales (2007) – where he was also honoured with the title of professor-at-large.
