12 Aug 2024 - Breaking the internet

The place to go for conversations about the news

G’day… Claire Kimball here. 

Concerns - we’ve got a few… In last week’s poll, we asked you where you are on a sliding scale of worry over the growing tensions in the Middle East and talk of a broadening regional war. There was not an insignificant number of Squizers - 11% in total - who said it’s kept them up at night. And the biggest group fell into the next category - 72% said it’s on the list with a bunch of other concerns. 

So with that in mind, let’s change gears today with a look at breaking - the breakout star of the Olympic Games. Maybe star is too strong a word - the breakout curiosity, perhaps… 

There’s no way around it, Australia’s Dr Rachael Gunn - known as B-girl Raygun - stood out from the crowd with her appearance in the women’s competition. She didn’t wow the judges, scoring 0 points in her 3 round-robin battles, but she certainly got a lot of attention that’s ongoing as we start the week. 

There’s a bit to unpack there… So for this week’s News Club picks: 

1. What is breaking anyway? Considered to be an art form generated from New York’s hip-hop community, even some of breaking’s pioneers were dubious about its inclusion in the Paris Olympics. The Daily podcast from the New York Times went through its rich history in an episode last Friday. 

2. Who is Dr Rachael Gunn? Before she hit international headlines, the Sydney Morning Herald/The Age published a profile on her where she speaks about her academic research areas of interest (dance, gender politics, and the dynamics between theoretical and practical methodologies) and her personal battles to make it as a B-girl in a male-dominated pursuit.

3. Was Raygun technically any good? Head judge at the Olympics Martin Gilian said “originality and bringing something new to the table and representing your country or region” is encouraged - and I think we can agree that’s what she did… 

4. As for her performances - here’s the link to 9Now. Was she up there with other notable Olympic innovators like British ski jumper Eddie the Eagle or swimmer Eric the Eel from Equatorial Guinea? You be the judge… 

My tip: let’s watch her turn her profile as a global internet sensation into the go-to speaker on daring to be different. I’ll certainly be cheering her on to seize the moment and turn it into a triumph. 

Your friend in news

Claire Kimball

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