In July, we turn on our torches and peer into the past. What makes practices like surfing or gaming so… ‘subterranean’? And how do they become mainstream whilst keeping their ‘edge’? Find out about some of the many surprising subcultures that have shaped South Australia.
Date: 15 July 2025
Time: 5:30pm to 8:00pm
Address: Hetzel Lecture Theatre, State Library of South Australia
cnr North Tce and Kintore Ave, ADELAIDE SA 5000
Tickets
The Talking History program is delivered in partnership with the State Library of South Australia.
Speakers:
Dr. Dianne Rodger is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Adelaide and a long-time Hip Hop fan! She is an anthropologist who researches popular music, digital media, and the youth sector – primarily through a long-term commitment to studying Hip Hop culture in Australia. She is author of the book The Calling (2023) about Adelaide group the Hilltop Hoods and co-editor of the first edited book to explore Hip Hop in Australia (Representing Hip Hop Histories, Politics and Practices in Australia, 2024). She is currently leading an archival Hip Hop project funded by the History Trust of South Australia.
Author and community historian Liz Harfull is passionate about telling the stories of the extraordinary everyday people who make up our communities. She has written ten books, including an acclaimed history of Robe – home to one of the oldest continuously held surfing competitions in the world. To mark the event’s 50th anniversary, in 2018 she published Finding Steve’s Place which captures the life and memories of its founder, local surfing legend Steve Woolston. Not a surfer herself, Liz became fascinated with his adventures after riding his first wave at Moana in the 1960s and the fascinating characters he met along the way.
Tyson Hopprich is a multidisciplinary creative, accessibility advocate, and long-time video game enthusiast based in Adelaide, Australia. As a neurodivergent and physically disabled individual, Tyson’s work champions inclusive play, innovation, and community building across music, digital arts, and gaming culture. Over the past 29 years, Tyson (also known during his music career as DJ TR!P) has performed internationally at major festivals and venues, including MONA FOMA, DARK MOFO, WOMADelaide, Adelaide Festival (Barrio), Brisbane Powerhouse, Sydney Opera House, New Victory Theater on Broadway (New York), and Adelaide’s NYE Fireworks celebrations. Alongside his music career, Tyson has consistently explored the creative potential of video games as cultural artifacts, performance mediums, and tools for accessible expression and created Ultracade Live, Adelaide’s long-running retro gaming club night.