(Illustration by Bianca Van Dijk)
Having positive role models is a wise practice but deifying any fellow human being crosses a line because none of us are perfectly good in attitudes and behaviors. Deification is a path to cynicism (or a cultish perspective). Cynicism is a destructive worldview, since when an idolized individuals' flaws become known, we can feel betrayed if we don't fall into denial, while it effectively normalizes the leadership that is actually inhumane. The sense of betrayal that stems from cynicism, that which is rooted in deification, is a temptation to generalize leaders as deceivers who want to take advantage of us, while their good deeds essentially become invisible. This worldview is a path to trust in conspiracy theories, pseudoscience, propaganda, or (and) the fear-mongering about minorities since those answers are easily digestible; those explanations are comforting due to their lack of nuance and complexity (while that viewpoint can even inspire a belief about a few people pulling world leaders' strings, as if we're living in a James Bond, Mission Impossible, or Austin Powers film). It's a belief system that produces an assurance that minorities and (or) leaders have and will take advantage of us (except the leaders who knowingly or unknowingly produce misinformation to produce a sense of community and a feeling of refuge). This worldview ironically amplifies anxiety. Furthermore, our vision to our own flaws, and the true source of our problems, become flawed if we fall for that type of perspective. Defeatism ironically nourishes defeat. Therefore, if we give in to deification, then others ultimately aren't the only ones harmed, while we walk upon the intertwining path of self-destruction.
0 Comments
Illustration by Andorra (Bellinon)
~~~ One of the best things we can do for ourselves and others is to say no to taking on a job, project, or a task that would be fatiguing to us, whether it's directly due to having enough work to tend to (paid or not), it'd hurt our passions, or it'd harm our health (mental and physical health are connected). Saying no (politely but firmly) may upset some individuals but saying yes to what would be burdensome (not merely a challenge or inconvenient) to us would certainly cause us to burn out, thus harming the people who sought our labour, our other work, others who would be served through our service, and our personal relationships. No amount of money, nor kindness from any workmates and bosses, will make work that's inherently fatiguing to us less fatiguing, and though an accompanying healthy salary will provide material essentials, and perhaps even luxuries, one's soul will starve while disadvantaging others'. However, saying no opens up the door to other individuals who are a good fit for what was asked of us, while it allows us to pursue work opportunities that would be mutually beneficial between us, any teammates, and the individuals we serve. Sources: My experiences, introspection, and MS in Leadership degree. My review is spoiler-free!
Though I wasn't alive during 1963, nor have I yet set foot anywhere in Japan, a sense of nostalgia rapidly blossomed within me when I watched From Up on Poppy Hill. Like the best period films that install a sense of wistfulness for a bygone era, this movie features songs from that time, a warm color palette, and adventurous optimism that plows into tribulations; those elements help make audience members who are outside of a narrative's time to yearn a visit there, as they feel a connection to the story through their own nostalgia. Now a misconception about optimistic people is that they're a perpetually cheery bunch, who are ignorant of the gravity of threatening situations and immunized against grief. Yet optimism can be a ferociously challenging perspective to maintain; It is not an easy mindset to fall into, and it isn't reliant on bliss; One can be optimistic even as they feel like they're drowning in despair. Optimism is a refusal to remain down when one gets knocked over. It is acknowledging the severity of problems while discovering the best in situations; It is strategizing on how to be triumphant for oneself and others. The main characters in From Up on Poppy Hill practiced optimism when they advocated against their historic clubhouse's demolition. ~ ~ ~ There's a scene where one debate team wanted to keep their historic clubhouse (a place they shared with the other team), while the other side wanted it to be replaced. A broader issue was soon revealed: one side didn't want to throw out all traditions because one shouldn't throw the baby out with the bathwater (as the saying goes) and one can't really progress without remembering the past. Meanwhile, the other team wanted to throw historic traditions out in the name of progress. This scene shows us that the debate teams desired the same goal: how to sufficiently progress (even when they disagreed on the matter of preserving their clubhouse). Likewise, some of us share the same political goals (if not the same methods) even if we see ourselves as politically opposed. A character in the debate scene also lashed out by calling an opponent who wanted to keep their historic clubhouse (a representation of holding on to some traditions for the sake of progress) an anarchist. This moment shows us that political labels can be unintentionally misapplied in a hilarious manner. ~ ~ ~ ★ Film Details ★ Directed by: Goro Miyazaki Screenplay by: Hayao Miyazaki & Keiko Niwa Based on: Coquelicot-zaka kara by Tetsurō Sayama & Chizuru Takahashi Genre: Drama Release Year: 2011 ~ ~ ~ My other Studio Ghibli film reviews: My review of Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald and Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is spoiler-free!
What do I, a fan of the Harry Potter series think about the Fantastic Beasts films thus far? Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald has a broad narrative whose focus is divided between a continuation of the predominantly stand-alone first Fantastic Beasts film (Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them) and a Dumbledore vs. Grindelwald prequel that is reliant on the Harry Potter saga (as the Harry Potter saga fascinatingly is reliant on the subsequently released Crimes of Grindelwald). Though the scene transitions don't always flow (the connective tissue from one scene to the next sometimes feels like it's missing, though the film is never confusing), the movie nevertheless features a masterclass of writing, performances, and music. While Where to Find Them is a wondrous adventure whose touch of deep melancholy is countered by resilient optimism (qualities that make it feel like it could be a Christmas film, despite its events taking place outside of Christmas Day and Eve), Crimes of Grindelwald is a steadfastly tragic tale about discrimination, trauma, rhetorical warfare, and how propaganda that scapegoats can manipulate even wise and empathic souls. Where to Find Them is predominantly whimsical and consistently beautiful in its telling. It is ultimately uplifting like a steaming cup of apple cider, despite it compelling our hearts to break, at times, for someone who commits horrifying acts, by showing us their perspective on what led them there, without excusing their heinous crimes. Crimes of Grindelwald is a tale of two narratives, though the film is more thematically complex. Both movies have a through-line of empathy; it is filtered through optimism in Where to Find Them, while it is filtered through grief in Crimes of Grindelwald. I adore both films. By the way, Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore releases in two weeks! ★ Alternate Movie Review Title ★ Before Dumbledore's Secrets Were Revealed, We Found Fantastic Beasts and Grindelwald Committed Crimes |
Archives
December 2022
Categories
All
|