Perspectives

To Critique, Inform, Challenge and Entertain

Author: Daniel Stepniak

Music Reviews - Rock

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The Dark Side of the Moon Redux – Roger Waters Reimagines the Original

Reading Time: 2 minutesWaters demonstrates creative genius in producing an album that is readily identifiable as Dark Side of the Moon, yet sufficiently different to not be regarded as merely a version of the original. On Dark Side of the Moon Redux Waters showcases his musical mastery, in a manner befitting a writer and musician who is 50 years older and performing for an audience that is not asked to compare or look up the original.

AUSTRALIAN POLITICS / CURRENT ISSUES

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Referendum 2023 – Indigenous Voice to Parliament and Government

Reading Time: 7 minutesThe looming 2023 referendum asks us to answer a single question about two distinct issues – the constitutional recognition of Australia’s Indigenous peoples as our nation’s First Peoples, and the constitutionally entrenched setting up of a Voice to Parliament (and Government).
By presenting the Voice as a means of recognising Indigenous people as our First Peoples, the referendum risks creating the impression that the majority of Australians reject the constitutional recognition of the status of our Indigenous peoples. At best, a narrowly victorious Yes vote would create the impression that we are divided on the issue of recognition. Such an outcome would also constitutionally entrench the perception that Indigenous people are disadvantaged and unlike other Australians experiencing similar disadvantage, will require specific and ongoing governmental assistance as recommended by a body called, the Voice to Parliament.

Hackney Diamonds Album Cover

Music Reviews - Rock

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Hackney Diamonds – Rolling Stones – 2023

Reading Time: 2 minutesOn October 20 the remaining three Rolling Stones will release their latest album, Hackney Diamonds, the band’s first studio album in 18 years. Two singles off this album have been released to date. The first, Angry, left me relieved that that these old rockers can still sound so good, but disappointed that this single foreshadowed yet another enjoyable, but not particularly great album. The second single, Sweet Sounds of Heaven, released today, has blown me away.

BRIEFLY / OPINION

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Briefly

Reading Time: 2 minutesSharing some events, thoughts, comments, musings and ideas, some of which may later turn into Perspectives blogs.

Straya Day – Xenophobia and Hatred – Old as Electricity

FILM REVIEWS

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The Lost King

Reading Time: 2 minutesOn the surface, The Lost King is a light-hearted comedy about a quirky woman who became obsessed with finding the remains of King Richard III, and in the process had hallucinations in which she saw and spoke with the King. Apart from Sally Hawkin’s outstanding acting, the attractions of the film are likely to be different for each of us. The issues tackled include research in the age of business-dominated universities, chronic fatigue syndrome, fractured families, and re-written histories. Above all, the story told by this gentle and entertaining film is based on real events and a tribute to the courage and determination of Phillipa Langley, who took on and defeated the authorities in her quest to find the remains of King Richard III.

FILM REVIEWS

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Here After – 2021 Romantic Comedy

Reading Time: 2 minutesHere After is an entertaining, unpredictable and original version of an afterlife romantic comedy. It is set in New York, where a young man dies in a motor vehicle accident. As he was not romantically attached at the time he finds himself before Scarlett, played by the ever so stylish Christina Ricci, who informs him that in order to pass to the other side he must find a similarly deceased soulmate. What complicates our leading character’s search is that the girl with whom he falls in love is not dead. This rom-com’s original concept makes the plot particularly interesting and less predictable. Visually, the film is quirky and urban-otherworldly. Christina Ricci is perfectly cast as Scarlett, the adviser, and dispatcher of uncoupled recently deceased. The Honey Bee character avoids many of the cliches of this genre and is also perfectly cast

CURRENT ISSUES / RELIGION

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Discrimination can be Appropriate

Reading Time: 4 minutesChoosing the best applicant for a leadership position calls for a selection committee to treat less favourably those candidates whose values, or the values of organisations with which they are associated, are incompatible with those of the employer. This is not workplace discrimination on the grounds of religious belief. The discrimination is a lawful discrimination against incompatible values directly related to the employment.