YOUTUBE
Dave Chappelle – 8:46
On June 12, Netflix’s YouTube channel uploaded 8:46 – a recorded stand-up comedy performance by top-tier comedian Dave Chappelle. This special is markedly different to the majority of Dave’s televised comedy performances – this one is raw, unrefined and roughly edited. It’s also not really a comedy special. The show was recorded on June 6 in Dave’s hometown of Beavercreek, Ohio in front of a socially distanced audience all wearing face masks. It was filmed in the immediate wake of the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis and the ensuing protests that have since swept the nation and the world. The title of Dave’s special refers to the amount of time then-Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin knelt on George Floyd’s neck before George died, which coincidentally is also the time Dave Chappelle was born on August 24, 1973. The name highlights the connection tethering Dave to the Black Lives Matter movement and the numerous aspects of the cause that he grapples with daily. Throughout the performance Dave touches on a host of topics – some historical, others deeply personal – centred around systemic racism towards Black people in America, the killings of Black people that continue to go unpunished, the continual failings of the nation’s political and law-enforcement institutions, and the fatigue felt at having to constantly speak louder to make up for white silence. Dave’s performance highlights the level of vulnerability Black people experience on a daily basis, referring not only to the murder of George Floyd, but a procession of killings of Black men, women and transgender individuals that preceded and follow it. 8:46 is an uncomfortable watch, but it’s an important one. It serves to encapsulate many of the emotions surrounding the current social-justice movement and is also enlightening on a pure historical basis. The special should be a part of the curriculum for anyone currently educating themselves on the issues at hand. You can watch it now on YouTube.
James Frostick, assistant editor

 

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A post shared by Tara June Winch (@tara_june_winch) on Jun 11, 2020 at 11:00pm PDT

INSTAGRAM
#ShareTheMicNowAustralia
Last Wednesday, June 10, a group of celebrity and influential white women handed over their Instagram accounts to Black women in an effort to amplify and expand the reach of Black women’s voices. The #ShareTheMicNow social media campaign had incredible cut through, highlighting the important work Black women are doing in an effort to enact change – that will only come when we actually hear each other’s voices. I am so thrilled to see that the movement has made its way to Australia – today, June 16, inspiring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander womxn are taking over influential non-Indigenous Instagram accounts for #ShareTheMicNowAustralia. You’ll see author Tara June Winch taking over Zoë Foster Blake’s account, singer/songwriter Emily Wurramara take over Clare Bowditch’s account, journalist and writer Amy McQuire taking over Tara Moss’ account, and many more. The campaign’s aim is to amplify Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices and start the important conversation around the work we need to do, now and ongoing, to (in the words of Tara June Winch) “address the privilege in the room, the broken heart of a nation and the effort that needs to go into being an anti-racist ally in Australia today”. To find out more and hear the stories of these remarkable Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander womxn, head to the #ShareTheMicNowAustralia hashtag.
Chrisanthi Demos, managing editor 

VIDEO GAME
Lee Carvallo’s Putting Challenge
The sentence “Buy me Bonestorm or go to hell!” is bound to ignite some serious nostalgia in fans of The Simpsons. Any viewer worth their weight in 64 slices of American cheese would be familiar with the all-time classic episode where Marge refuses to buy Bart a violent and expensive video game, which leads to a shoplifting incident and the fracturing of their relationship. Through Bart’s atonement and Marge’s forgiveness, it all works out in the end – and while Bart doesn’t receive the game he so desperately wanted, Marge gifts him with the stunningly mild alternative of Lee Carvallo’s Putting Challenge. The good news for all of us is that a die-hard Simpsons fan from Canada has gone ahead and actually made a playable version of the golf-based game. Aaron Demeter’s short but sweet creation has everything you could possibly want in a five-minute, low-budget, pixellated gaming experience – club selection, swing style and the soothing tones of Carvallo’s gentle suggestions as he urges you not to power-drive the ball into the parking lot. Take ten minutes out of your day and check it out here.
Georgia Brooker, digital media specialist

FILMS
Refugee Week on SBS on Demand
For Refugee Week 2020 (June 14–20), SBS is showcasing a powerful collection of stories and cinematic masterpieces from all around the world. If you’re not really into subtitled films, perhaps it’s time to start! This week, drag yourself away from Netflix for a night or two and delve deep into these profound and relevant stories. The collection of films for Refugee Week has been curated by the Immigration Museum and features a series of insightful movies that can be streamed via SBS on Demand – the catch is that they will only be there for a limited time. French film Dheepan is a great place to start – it’s a very eye-opening depiction of refugees attempting to leave Sri Lanka’s civil war. It’s powerful and makes for some pretty uncomfortable viewing, but let’s just say it was awarded the Palme d’Or at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival for good reason. Though, not all of the Refugee Week films get the message across in such a hard-hitting way – you can lose yourself in more heartfelt films like Finnish flick The Other Side of Hope, or comedian Kheiron Tabib’s first feature film All Three Of Us – a dramedy that follows an Iranian family’s winding journey to a new life France. Each film has been carefully selected to showcase the courage and contributions of refugees across the world – and you should definitely dedicate some TV time to immerse yourself in these incredible stories. The entire program of Refugee Week films are available now to stream for free on SBS on Demand.
Janna Hrastovec, assistant editor

BOOK 
Come by Rita Therese
If iso has left you with little to peruse from your library then I have got a book suggestion for you! Are biographies and tell-all memoirs right up your alley? If you answered yes, then you’ll devour the honest and all-absorbing story that is Come, the extraordinary tale of Melbourne sex worker Rita Therese and her experiences with love, sex and death. Entering the industry at 18 (first as a topless waitress), self-proclaimed outsider Rita quickly learns the sex industry is made up of people just like her. She is introduced into the taboo world of sex work, where late nights, hard drugs and abusive customers is the norm. After her two older brothers pass away within months of each other, her life begins to fall apart. I read this book cover-to-cover within 24 hours, so it is safe to say it’s an engrossing read. This novel is a thought-provoking and welcome insight into Australia’s sex work industry, and is a stellar reading addition to your 2020 bucket list. Come is available to purchase from all good bookstores.
Sara Weckerle, editorial assistant