How has the Dalnavert staff been passing time in lockdown? Below you’ll find MORE of the music, podcasts, books, TV shows, and video games that are keeping us entertained this month.
PODCASTS
Historical Friction: Hosted by Alice Procter, Historical Friction is a podcast about storytelling, pop culture, the past, and why we reenact it.
Storytelling / Story-listening: Hosted by Jessica Hum, this podcast explores multiple Indigenous and cultural epistemologies, documenting oral stories and teachings as a method of preparation for climate change.
Ologies: Science correspondent Alie Ward interviews professional “-ologists” who specialize in topics including astrobiology (space biology), scorpiology (scorpions), ludology (games), and everything in between. Start with the episode on museums (museology) here.
Brainwashed: This CBC podcast explores the Canadian links to the CIA's covert experiments in mind control in the 1960s via the MKULTRA program. The Allan Memorial Institute in Montreal serves as the backdrop of this frightening tale of psychiatry gone wrong. Whilst detailing the terrible toll these experiments had on patients and their families, the narrative also explores the ethical shortcomings of intelligence agencies and governments since WWII, spanning the Cold War to the War on Terror, in the baffling race to control minds.
TV shows (for kids)
Clifford The Big Red Dog (from 2001): Clifford is a great show to watch if you have small children at home, and you’ll appreciate the great voice acting and fun that is this show from 20 years ago. John Ritter, Cree Summer, Kel Mitchell are super fun to listen to.
Kiri and Lou (CBC Gem): This cute and short show from New Zealand is soft on the eyes (muted colours and claymation) so it is perfect for littles. There is always a very fun song in each episode and the comedy is fun to enjoy for adults and kids. Plus for those who loved New Zealand’s Flight of The Conchords, the character Lou is voiced by Jemaine Clement.
TV Shows (for grown-ups)
Bridgerton (Netflix): Bridgerton is a classic bodice-ripper romance made for modern audiences (think Jane Austen meets Gossip Girl). The lavish, bright Regency-era set and costumes alone make this series worth the watch. Honourable mention also goes to the soundtrack of pop songs performed by a string quartet.
Burden of Truth (CBC Gem): a suspenseful legal drama series that is not only filmed in Manitoba, but set here too!
MUSIC
Medieval Bardcore: the musical genre sweeping the internet. Bardcore, also known as ‘Tavernwave’, is like if you took your favourite 21st century pop hit and threw in a harpsichord and your grandma’s church choir. Stream-eth renowned bardcore composer ‘Hildegard von Blingin’ on ye olde tube of you here.
Sea Shanties: Historically, sea shanties were labour songs, sung by working men on ships in the 19th century. The genre is currently going through a cultural resurgence, and it's no wonder. Themes of hardship, isolation, and longing, combined with generally upbeat melodies, make these classic songs the perfect soundtrack to an extended lockdown. We recommend starting with Great Big Sea, The Pirates Charles, and The Dreadnaughts.
Ys - Joanna Newson: Want to feel like a peasant frolicking gayly in a field of flowers in the 1500’s? Classical harpist, singer, and married to Andy Samberg, Joanna Newsom is the musical genius you’ve never heard of <3
Merry Christmas Lil' Mama: This is the 2020 version of a Christmas mixtape first released by Chance the Rapper and Jeremih in 2016 via Soundcloud. It's an inventive, joyful collection of songs that celebrates family, friendship and Christmas. It's also a mix bag of styles (from gospel to trap) which doesn't always work but never loses its spirit of fun.
Fantasy Baseball at the End of the World - John K. Sampson: Local musician Sampson (headman of The Weakerthans) released this single back in July, but its sentiment still rings true. It is a highly relatable ballad about the emotional rollercoaster that is living through a simultaneous public health crisis and political upheaval. It ends with some optimistic advice we can all take these days - I’m going outside / and gonna help organize / something better, something beautiful.
Video Games
A Short Hike (Nintendo Switch): Created by the Canadian developer Adam Robinson-Yu, this peaceful little game centres around a young bird called Claire who explores Hawk Peak Provincial Park. As you hike, swim and fly across the beautiful terrains you encounter other small animals enjoying their lives. There are enough puzzles and games to keep it interesting, but the real joy is in taking your time to ramble and explore. This is about as anxiety free as a game can get.
Books
The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde: A Victorian classic that proves that the ultimate dedication to youthfulness isn’t plastic surgery or an expensive skincare routine, it’s selling your soul! Through the gothic novel, Wilde exposes society’s inherent obsession with youthfulness and beauty, and its willingness to overlook depravity for a pretty face.
Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons: Written in 1932 this is a parody of all your favourite romance / rural British life novels and it is hilarious! There is a movie from 1995, and it is no. 57 on The Guardian’s 100 best novels and is on top of many lists for comedy novels. Reading this after Wuthering Heights and it has lent much depth and context to the comedy.
Inward Journey: The Life of Lawren Harris by James King: This biography gives an incredibly detailed account of Lawren Harris’ life as a painter and prominent member of the Group of Seven. A must-read for any fan of Canadian art history!
Social Media Accounts
@WpgDaylightTkr on Twitter: The Winnipeg Daylight Tracker provides updates on how much daylight we gain in Winnipeg each day - an optimistic reminder that spring is coming!
@blackcraftspeopleda on Instagram: The Black Craftspeople Digital Archive highlights the stories of Black craftspeople and the objects they created. Their Instagram page is a well-curated and informative snapshot of this archive.
@erenanaomi on TikTok: Elena Kanagy-Loux is a lace maker as well as a collections specialist at the Metropolitan Museum in New York. As you watch her make lace creations, she educates the audience on textile and fashion histories. It is both relaxing and fascinating watching her make lace, but also you learn something!