On the box

Masterpiece: From Shore to Shore — This documentary examines both the continuity and the changes that have affected Irish traditional music since the turn of the century. By showing the development of Irish culture in New York, it illustrates what a powerful vehicle for transmission of ethnic identity the music is. SBS, Monday, June 13, 8.30pm.

Fine Cut: What happened to Kerouac? — An investigation into the personal history and creative process of Jack Kerouac, author of On the Road and king of the Beat Generation. SBS, Monday, June 13, 11.05pm.

Documentary: Marilyn: the last interview — "A sex symbol becomes a thing — I just hate being a thing." This interview took place with Marilyn Monroe in her California home just two days before her death. The interview particularly focuses on her perception of fame, and of herself as a star. SBS, Tuesday, June 14, 7.30pm.

The Cutting Edge: The Disposables — The "disposables" include street children, prostitutes, tramps, homosexuals, the unemployed: anyone who is no longer valued by their society. This documentary looks at Colombia, where local industrialists hire death squads to "clean up the streets". In one case tramps were lured to a university where they were murdered and sold to medical students for dissection. The story was told by one man who, after being clubbed close to death, awoke in a room of corpses and managed to escape to tell the police. Such horror stories are becoming more common in South American countries as they implement "economic reforms" which widen the wealth gap more and more. SBS, Tuesday, June 14, 8.30pm.

Billy Connolly — A profile of the Scottish comedian. SBS, Saturday, June 18, midnight.

(All times are AEST.)

From GLW issue 146