Issue 6 Week 4 Term 1 2022
It’s week two of another COVID filled term where, after the spike of cases in early January, infection rates have begun to decrease to around 54,000 new cases last week (https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/ covid-19/Pages/stats-nsw.aspx). Still, despite this quite high statistic, Reddam has recently been able to slip past relatively unscathed: no major outbreaks and few isolated cases. So make sure you are wearing masks indoors and performing regular testing (Mondays and Thursdays) to help us contain the virus within our community.
Over the past 6 issues, I have tried to say something profound... It appears I only had six allegedly profound thoughts that I could translate into words (how disappointing). Or perhaps, my inspiration runs dry once the clock ticks past 9 pm. Who knows.
So I present to you the most 'profound' quotes that float on the surface of my memory, every ready to be interjected into witty conversation:
'Subtly falsehood is mixed with truth and the devilish angel transforms itself into the angel of light.' - Murner (thanks Extension II English!), truth being an issue touched upon in my below article with Allegra Spender. 'If all else perished, and he remained, I should still continue to be; and if all else remained, and he were annihilated, the universe would turn to a mighty stranger.' - Wuthering Heights, Emily Brontë. For those of you who are still hung up on Valentine's Day you'll find more romance enclose.
It is also encouraged, if you are unable to come to school due to restrictions, to stay up to date with classes by attending lessons on Google Meet and Google Classroom.
'Talk less, smile more!' - Hamilton, the musical. Scroll down to read a very thorough and interesting review of the theatre production.
Other than this, it's business as usual at Reddam; back to normal-ish classes and excessive study. We are happy to welcome the opening of a new student run canteen in the Bondi campus. A risky venture partaken by our very own year tens. I urge you to show them your support by making sure you pop round to grab (and pay for) a snack during recess and lunch.
And finally... 'But how his arms and legs are thin!' - T. S. Eliot. For when you want to force the 'modern man' (or a Year 12 Advanced English student) to regress further into his self-loathing, alienation and existential crisis. In the bleakest sense... Read on Reddam, Mia Seisun.
That's all from us, have a great couple of weeks. - Gabriel Jones
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Issue 6 Week 4 Term 1 2022
Hi all,
Sport for the mind!
The future is near! And it’s time to start registering your interest in universities. If you go onto the UTS website, you are able to enter your phone number and email, so as to be notified when applications are open for early entry.
With exams, tests and assessments just around the corner for most years (especially Year 12), we need to find ways of managing stress and pressure. As tests approach and the mountain of pressure builds every day, sports should be your number 1 stress reliever.
ANU will be opening applications for early entry on Wednesday, March 2nd. If you would like to have an idea of how the application process works, just click on the application timeline for 2022 applicants.
Exercise releases endorphins, which help to relieve stress and pain. This increase in endorphins also decreases the levels of cortisol and adrenaline (chemicals which cause you to feel stressed). Just 20-30 minutes of exercise a day can make you feel calmer and more collected. Easy ways to do exercise include: Walking Running Skipping Cycling
With that being said, BOND university in Queensland has offered to conduct a seminar at school to discuss their application process. I have linked their website on the Futures 2022 Google Classroom; please reply in the comment thread if you are interested!!
So the next time your parents tell you to quit sports and get studying, you can tell them otherwise. - Zeya Kuban
Hope you all have an amazing week!! - Daniel Wesek
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Issue 6 Week 4 Term 1 2022
Asia acts as the engine of the world, powering the economy and existing as a global transportation superpower. Yet the single greatest feat of technology, labour, and Industry, is none other thaaaaaaaan:
Year 12 Art Camp
Hello Kitty!
This icon has had the whole world in a chokehold since 1975, and has made her way into all the facets of popular culture: food, tv, clothing, toys, even cars. She is THE Miss. Worldwide, and you should be remiss if you haven’t gotten to experience her eminence first hand. New to Darling Square in the Sydney CBD, is a Hello Kitty themed festival, celebrating popular Asian culture with delicious themed food, and brightly decorated facilities, making this the perfect day/ evening outing for all ages.
This precinct is Sydney’s newest attraction, garnering fame for its flashy architecture and multicultural food vendors. This new Hello Kitty themed extravaganza is a great ploy to create an even greater sense of multiculturalism, bringing everyone from everywhere to experience this colourful festivity. Open until the 29th of April, there is still plenty of opportunity to get out with friends, family, lovers, colleagues, or yourself, to have a great experience of culture, music, and culinary marvels, under the loving and warm presence of the worlds greatest kitten, HELLO KITTY!
Want to see your art featured in The Stag?
Email it to maya.gertler@reddamhouse.com.au or mia.klugman@reddamhouse.com.au to feature in the next issue!
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- Asher Emder
Issue 6 Week 4 Term 1 2022
If you have any questions or wish to share an upcoming event please email me at alyana.kondilios@ reddamhouse.com.au It will make my life easier so please do! Welcome back to the Integration Portfolio’s Culture column. We have a very ethnically and religiously diverse school and we wish to keep you up to date with upcoming festivals, cultural events, and religious holidays. Valentine’s Day:
The 14th of Feb: the annual day for couples to celebrate their romantic love, for single people to wallow in their loneliness, and for florists to make a lot of money. Valentine’s Day is celebrated in honor of the 3rd century Roman saint, St Valentine, a priest believed to have assisted Christian couples in secretly marrying each other. Valentine's Day is celebrated all around the world in countries such as Argentina, France, Mexico, and South Korea. Saudi Arabia on the other hand has banned Valentine’s Day as antithetical to Islamic notions of propriety. Fun Fact: 10% of US couples get engaged on Valentine's day (Unfortunately since the US thinks the world re-
volves around them I could only find statistics on them). Magha Puja: is the second most important Buddhist festival, celebrated all around the world in countries such as Laos, Thailand and Sri Lanka. Many Buddhists around the world celebrate this day with gifts, lighting oil lamps, meditation, attending temple for special observance and participating in Buddhist activities. The spiritual aims of the day are to do only good things and to purify one’s mind.
Famous Valentine birthdays and deaths Births: Freddie Highmore, Simon Pegg, Carol Brady, Rob Thomas, Meg Tilly, Jake Lacy, and Enrico Colantoni. Deaths: Captain James Cook, Eva Hart (Titanic Survivor) and Stewie Dempster (cricketer). Stay groovy, - Alyana Kondilios
Have a birthday coming up? Want to celebrate your friend’s big day?
Email alyana.kondilios@reddamhouse.com.au for a birthday shoutout in The Stag! Please let Alyana know if you want your name included and the year they are in. Messages and Photos are optional.
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Issue 6 Week 4 Term 1 2022
Valentine's Day - our love
Valentine's Day - Beheading, duh!
Now that the roses have withered and the chocolates have been eaten, it's time for my usual pessimistic (and realistic) analysis of what has really occurred across the world behind the scenes.
When we think of Valentine’s day in 2022, we think of roses, extravagant boxes of chocolate and wholesome cards - and texts. But, when the Romans celebrated Valentine's Day - well, it wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows.
Today I will be analysing some of the less romantic events that took place on the day of the patron saint of beekeeping and epilepsy, none other than everyone's favourite: Saint Valentine.
From February 13th to the 15th, the Romans would celebrate the festival of animal cruelty and borderline human rights abuse - sorry, I meant to say Lupercalia. The men sacrificed a goat and a dog, then whipped women with the hides of the animals they had just slain. If we were in today’s times, that would probably have been denounced as a cult and members sent to jail - but, the Romans thought of it as a symbol of fertility. The strange funfair didn't stop there; there was a matchmaking lottery in which young men drew the names of women from a jar. Then, that couple would be ‘coupled up’ for the duration of the festival - or longer, if the match was right. I’d describe it as modern-day Tinder just minus the free will! If I haven’t already provoked you to question the loved-up nature of Valentine's day, I'm sure the origins of the name ‘Valentine’s’ will. Emperor Claudius 11 executed two men – both named Valentine (coincidence, I think not) - on February 14 of different years in the third century. How were they executed, you might ask: beheading, of course! No better way to hop into the afterlife. So, instead of handing someone a bouquet of roses during Valentine’s day, hand them an ancient dagger, or animal hides; it’s historically appropriate! - Daniel Wesek
Starting off strong in 1956 with the 20th congress of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. This was the first congress following the death of Joseph Stalin, in which Nikita Khrushchev denounced Stalin, criticising him for abandoning true Leninism. That's not exactly the rose petals and dinner date Stalin would have liked, is it? But that is what you get for being a tyrant. Don't be a tyrant. No one does Valentine's Day quite like the USA, as was proven in 1945. The Allies had thoughtfully planned a bombing of Dresden, Germany on the day. Although what they hadn’t planned was poor weather conditions and low visibility as they were flying to their target, and they ended up accidentally bombing Prague with 152 tonnes of ammunition, killing 701 civilians and injuring thousands. That's absolutely not my type of surprise date, but to each their own, I guess.
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So to all of our readers who may be mildly peeved at not receiving that text message, or that bouquet of roses, find solace in the fact that you didn't get denounced or bombed. -Eden Rubenstein
Issue 6 Week 4 Term 1 2022
Last Tuesday, Ella Chong, Dominic Carter and I (all Year 12s) met with Allegra Spender, an independent candidate running for the Wentworth seat currently occupied by Dave Sharma. Perched in the climbing rows of A1, we quizzed Ms Spender on policy, controversies and local issues, from the next election to donation scandals(with even a little left-wing radicalism thrown in to stoke the conversation). In turn, she asked us about our own concerns for the area and the nation, and listened attentively as we spoke on mental health, sexism and youth representation. Below are her responses to some of our key questions:
ownership becoming an increasingly unreachable goal, particularly for younger Australians. She also mentioned that we needed a national housing plan and policy to address these issues.
For issues that are closer to home, Ms Spender stated that while the eastern suburbs is known for its concentration of elite high schools, she said that many of the residents she’s spoken to believe that our area needs a second high school, like Rose Bay What do you believe are the ma- Secondary College. jor issues facing the Wentworth electorate? Living density was also a commonly Ms Spender immediately noted raised issue, the inthat many of the issues facing our crease in population leading to a electorate were common across spike in traffic. the country. Finally, amongst Wentworth’s She promptly listed climate large Jewish community, antisemchange, stating that it was ‘urgent itism was of particular concern. and important’, particularly balancing the economy and the pres- When I interviewed Mr Sharma, ervation of our environment. he mentioned that being part of a large party (the Liberals) is an Ms Spender also mentioned health, important part of his appeal as particularly in the wake of the na- a candidate and ensures that he tion-wide aged care crisis and in can be ‘effective’ on a national the post-pandemic world. level. How would you respond to this? She then went on to explain how the economy is also central to Ms Spender observed that the many issues facing our electorate major parties often try to ‘score and the nation. Despite our econ- points against each other’, paromy, ‘doing well’ and unemploy- ticularly during question time, as ment rates at an admirable low, opposed to facing the issue and Ms Spender explained that many collectively asking `How do we people felt ‘left behind’. With the find an answer?’ She said that, cost of living on the rise and house as an independent she hopes to
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help realise these ‘answers’ and bring issues forward, invoking the Banking Royal Commission and Religious Freedom Bill as examples. She also assured that her detachment from a political party
means that she can help ‘bridge gaps’ between groups and help reach a ‘consensus’ which will create a ‘better government’ at the end of the day as she can work with anyone and doesn’t need to ‘stay the party line’. Zali Steggall, who has advocated both for political donation reform and climate action, has stirred recent controversy after it was revealed she accepted $1 million from a family trust with direct links to the fossil fuel industry. While many have labelled her a hypocrite, others have argued that the ‘means justifies the end’. How would you respond to these issues? Spender reiterated that Steggall labelled the donation a ‘rookie error’.
Issue 6 Week 4 Term 1 2022 What do you believe are the biggest challenges for women in politics and what advice do you have for young women who are interested in entering the field?
However, Ms Spender also said that she was worried by how the political donations system was ‘broken ', stating that she had already had to deal with the ‘game play’ that has come with her campaign for member for Wentworth.
She brought up that broadly, last year, $60 million of campaign donations were untraced (amongst all major parties). Ms Spender believes that it is important for the government to reform the political donations system and ‘go to people’ and ask what they expect to ensure that people feel involved in a key part of the political process and that our politicians ‘can’t be bought’. She went on to explain how donations aren’t just a problem of money, but also power, with certain supporters avoiding donating to candidates or parties due to business or personal links and others using the system as a method of furthering their own agendas. When she returned to the controversy of Steggall’s alleged hypocrisy, Ms Spender believes it is important to ask whether the donations drive the candidates decision making, implying she believed that Steggall’s politics were not influenced by her connections to fossil fuels.
However, Ms Spender put high emphasis on the need for reform within our political donations system, noting that the ‘hypocrisy’ and problems surrounding lob- Firstly, Spender bought up the bying through capital are a ‘awful’ culture often prevalent in widespread issue. Australian politics as shown by the Jenkin’s Review, which revealed Grace Tame received that 33% of people in parliamenwidespread criticism tary workplaces have been sexualwhen she refused to ly harassed. She stated that a ‘massmile while taking pho- sive culture shift’ was needed to tos with the PM. Do you ensure that women were safe and think this negative reac- heard in government space and in tion was warranted and politics. how do you think her experience reflects those of However, Spender assured that other women in the public and young women mustn’t ‘let that political eye? stop you’. To enact change, she believed that women must ‘stand up Ms Spender firstly said that she at all levels’, whether local or nawas disappointed by the negative tional, and ‘have the confidence reactions, labelling Grace Tame to stand even though [they] don’t an ‘incredible’ Australian of the have all the answers’. She also Year who will leave behind an ‘in- said that, when getting involved in credible legacy’ through her work politics, it's important for young on destigmatising and bringing women, and further anyone, to national attention to issues sur- surround themselves with ‘people rounding assault and violence who encourage [them]’, and bring against women and children. out the best in themselves. Finally, Spender mentioned that, when Ms Spender went on, stating that in positions of power, men must Tame had a ‘right not to smile’ and identify women as their peers and brought up the hypocrisy of the ensure that all members of our somedia when many men in simi- ciety are represented, which is key lar situations have chosen not to to the integrity of democracy. smile and caused little controver- - Mia Seisun sy, rather receiving praise for their protest. On issues around women's place in the public eye, she ‘applauded’ the ‘many women’, like Brittany Higgins, as ‘incredibly brave’. She noted that issues around gender, violence and assault were ‘collective’ problems and about men’s actions as much as women’s, she mentioned it was important for women to voice their expectations about men’s behaviour in these environments and open a greater dialogue around these problems.
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Issue 6 Week 4 Term 1 2022
The Kings man
Soundtracks for the Blind - Swans
The King's Man is the latest addition to the highly successful and critically acclaimed ‘spy, action, comedy’ franchise; Kingsman (based on the comic book The Secret Service).
If there was ever a single musical release which could bear the title of “the last album ever”, there is only one heir to that throne. This is likely one of the most inaccessible albums you will ever come across; it’s vulgar, brutal, overpowering, messy, cathartic, etc… rather than rambling on, it must be said there just isn’t a fitting collection of adjectives to describe Soundtracks For The Blind. It’s an experience in its own context. The unfathomably intense narrative of the birth, life and vengeance of a forsaken boy against his mother is told in four key epics: Helpless Child, Animus, The Sound and The Final Sacrifice. It’s as astoundingly powerful and cerebral as an epiphany in itself.
The film itself, as a fun action flick, is brilliant; incorporating a compelling, yet simple, story with fun characters and some of the best action/ choreography I have seen in a long time.
Despite this I did find some smaller aspects of the film quite difficult to watch. The film takes a large amount of ‘artistic liberty’ in its portrayal of early 20th century history; oversimplifying various events and shaping the depiction of certain ‘real life’ characters to fit their good vs evil narrative. The result of this is the reduction of real, complex human beings (like Rasputin and Wilhelm II among others) into two dimensional plot devices, representing caricatures of their historical counterparts.
As if the music wasn’t enough, frontman Michael Gira destroyed Swans immediately after the release of Soundtracks For The Blind, only releasing an ominous live album titled Swans Are Dead a year later. Both works have been soaked in critical acclaim and unanimously regarded as some of the very best ever created - talk about the aura of an album. Soundtracks For The Blind is arguably Gira’s strongest work, with resounding success in an effort to paint birth, growth, inequality, discovery, life, love, hate, violence, death and human moments of explosive quality, demonstrating what life is like to those who cannot see. This album is more paramount and (however corny it may be), trans-inducing than almost anything else music can offer. - Anonymous
Whilst I think this historical warping is meant in good fun as opposed to coming as a result of ignorance, I still found it a challenging aspect of the film to look past as I was watching it. I don’t think that this alone is a great detriment toward the film’s integrity, especially since it’s role is to entertain rather than to educate, but I do feel this should be taken into consideration when watching. Otherwise The King's Man is a really fun and well made piece of cinema. - Gabriel Jones
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Issue 6 Week 4 Term 1 2022
Hamilton
The low-down: Without a doubt, I would give this musical 9 stars out of 10. Before seeing Hamilton, I will admit I was skeptical about how rap would work in a musical and how I would be entertained by the American Revolutionary War and presidential campaigns. But by the end of the musical, I didn’t want to leave and was even emotional. Not only does the cast act, but they also dance, sing and rap - a “quadruple threat”. The cast of the Australian production were highly talented and the atmosphere in the theatre was electric. Each song was unique and performed spectacularly. Through using rap, the actors were effectively able to make American history entertaining while also subverting the conventions of musical theatre. Costumes and Set: The multi-layered set allowed for different characters to be positioned higher and lower, creating a dramatic proxemic distance relevant to what was happening in the musical. The stage rotated allowing the characters to move around more quickly and enhanced the realistic nature of the duels and debates. The traditional costumes created a stark juxtaposition to the modern rapping and music.
The effect of rap in Hamilton is that it emphasises the musical’s themes about storytelling and time. This is reinforced in how the show uses music to represent certain characters’ qualities and traits; for instance, Hamilton is constantly rapping, with a flow that’s demonstrably quicker than those around him highlighting his excitement and importance. My favourite song: ‘My Name is Alexander Hamilton’/ ‘My Shot’ - What an opening! What a great start which immediately attracts the attention of the audience. I found it interesting as this song was almost a synopsis of the musical. This song grabs your attention and the dance moves and colourful lights further create an exciting mood. We also see how Hamilton is determined to pursue his dreams and “not throw away his shot”.
My Favourite Character: I thought the actor that played Aaron Burr was exemplary and had a versatile performance, playing both the friend and enemy of Hamilton. He also got some of the best songs - “The room where it happens”, “Aaron Burr, Sir”, “Guns and Ships”, “Washington on your side”. The actor did an exceptional job The Music: and it was interesting to see Whoever thought a musical would the musical through be centred around rap?
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Burr’s perspective and see his motivations. Why it’s not 10 out of 10: I found the second half to be predominantly focused on the political aspects of American history and while this was interesting, at times the jargon was difficult to understand. However, I also learned some interesting facts about American history, for instance: Did you know that the candidate that lost the presidential election became the Vice-president before Thomas Jefferson changed that rule. Did you know that to solve political debates people would shoot pistols at each other? Pretty stupid right. If you haven’t seen Hamilton yet, why are you still reading this? Go watch it right now! - Sam Friedman
Issue 6 Week 4 Term 1 2022
Got something to say? Have and important message you want to share? Want your voice heard? Email your message to The Stag and get published!
Email @ mia.seisun@reddamhouse.com.au rosa.gordos@reddamhouse.com.au wallis.barth@reddamhouse.com.au aaron.dong@reddamhouse.com.au
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