Introduction

                                   Welcome to Stuart Fernie’s Blog

Please scroll down or find on the right links to articles, pages of reflections on films and books, and occasional pieces of short fiction.

Articles include discussion of "the relationship between an artist, a work of art and the consumer of a work of art", respect, self-perception and self-healing, "Sicario" (2015), Steve McQueen, "Dracula entre l'amour et la mort" (the French-Canadian musical), science-fiction films, films about teaching, "A Tale of Two Cities" (1958), "The Invention of Lying", the Arts, the James Bond films, "Sweet Smell of Success", "Rollerball" (1975 and 2002), "The Professionals" (1966), "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest", "The Name of the Rose", "The Man who would be King", "Mr. Holmes" (2015), "The Last Samurai", "Judgment at Nuremberg" (1961), "The Sand Pebbles", "Forrest Gump", "Gran Torino", "Gangs of New York", "Emperor of the North", "Five Easy Pieces", "Chinatown", "Casablanca", Blade Runner", "The Big Red One", early Luc Besson films, "Being There", "An Inspector Calls", "La Belle et la Bête", "The Searchers", "The Mission", "High Plains Drifter", "Nuremberg" (2025), "Prime Cut", the influence of existentialism in society today, anxiety, professional criteria and essential attributes in teaching, professionalism versus careerism, thoughts on the meaning of "success" and "worth", "Hobson's Choice", "Quai des Orfèvres", "Le Corbeau", "The Wages of Fear", advice and questions to assist in the writing of essays about films, thoughts on Proportion and Self-respect, "The Offence", "Trainspotting", "Three Days of the Condor", "Spotlight", "Good Night and Good Luck", "The Count of Monte Cristo" (French version, 2024), "Midnight Express", Jason Bourne, Advocating Arts and Humanities, "Heaven's Gate", "Civil War", "The Ghost and Mrs Muir", "Ad Astra", Duality in 19th century literature, "Living", "Hell in the Pacific", "Point Blank", "Vera Cruz", "Dr Strange in the Multiverse", my interpretation of "Il faut cultiver notre jardin", "Jean de Florette" and "Manon des Sources", "Drive my car", "The Batman", the place of acting in society, thoughts about religion and fate, "The Banshees of Inisherin", "Full Metal Jacket", "The Bishop's Wife", "Moliere", "Les Fleurs du Mal", "Soylent Green", "Bad Day at Black Rock", "The First Great Train Robbery", The Dreyfus Affair, "Persona", "The Seventh Seal", "A Clockwork Orange", "Night Moves", "Lonely are the Brave", "In the heat of the night", "The League of Gentlemen" (1960), thoughts on the nature of film noir, "Star Trek", "Seven Days in May", "Dead Poets Society", "Good Will Hunting", "Callan", "The Hill", "Cool Hand Luke", "The Hustler", "Road to Perdition", "The Verdict", "Three Colour Trilogy", "Jojo Rabbit", "Jeremiah Johnson", "Collateral", "Joker", "Barry Lyndon", "The Bridge at Remagen", "Le Mans '66 (Ford v Ferrari)", Charles Foster Kane ("Citizen Kane"), "The Deer Hunter", "Highlander", "No Country for Old Men", "Gattaca", "The Adventures of Robin Hood"(1938), "Apocalypse Now", "Spartacus", "The Bridge on the River Kwai", "The Long Good Friday", "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood", "The Third Man", "Finding Forrester", "The Outlaw Josey Wales", "Untouchable" (2011),"Unforgiven", "The Manchurian Candidate", "The Wild Bunch", "The Treasure of the Sierra Madre", "Papillon" (1973), "Public Eye", "Existentialism in society today", "Seven Samurai", "It's a Wonderful Life", "Don Quixote", "We're No Angels", "The African Queen", "Babette's Feast", "War for the Planet of the Apes", "Dunkirk", “Dances With Wolves”, “Inherit The Wind” and “The Prisoner”. 

A link to my YouTube channel with video presentations of a number of my pages.

After I retired from teaching, I thought I’d write my memoirs, “What have I done?”, and present them online. Please find links to these memoirs, some French support pages and reflections on "Les Misérables" below.

I can be contacted through the comments sections or at stuartfernie@yahoo.co.uk

Other blogs available:

French Support Pages

Discussion of “Les Misérables”

Tales of teaching – memoirs of a former French teacher

Versions françaises d’articles initialement publiés en anglais sur mon blog

All intellectual property rights reserved

Very brief reflections on the relationship between an artist, art and “consumers” of art

 

Very brief reflections on the relationship between an artist, art

 and “consumers” of art

 

An artist may seek to convey a “message”, discuss a theme or draw attention to a concept by contriving a representation through poetic beauty, an engaging narrative or a striking image that captures the spirit of whatever truth or principle he/she has identified, and the “consumer” attempts to deconstruct this contrivance or artifice to elucidate the “message” contained within the artist’s work. Intelligibility may depend on several factors including the level of lucidity of the artifice and of course the level of perception on the part of the “consumer”.

Naturally, this deconstruction or analysis is open to personal interpretation and may involve ideas and concepts not originally intended by the artist whose work, essentially, takes on a provocative or evocative life of its own. The consumer is focused on the work of art before him, not on the ideas and concepts the artist originally tried to convey. The work of art may be viewed as an independent entity given birth by one but whose interpretation is developed or nurtured by another, therefore creating a “formula” of creator – product – interpreter.

An intriguing thought - can this principle be applied to all forms of communication? A poem, image, text, film, song, even a sentence, may be produced with one concept in mind but it may be interpreted by the consumer in a quite different way, dependent on the consumer’s background, frame of mind and powers of perception. If this is the case and a product is declared a work of genius, who deserves credit – the creator or the consumer? It is possible, after all, that the source of genius is in an interpretation not considered by the creator.

 

 

Stuart Fernie (stuartfernie@yahoo.co.uk)

BLOG                                                   YouTube

 

Very brief reflections on respect and self-esteem

 

Very brief reflections on respect and self-esteem

 

This piece is one of an occasional series of articles produced

under the banner of “self-healing”

 

If you regularly seek validation through the eyes and views of others, you may lack self-confidence.

Bear in mind this desire for validation suggests a lack of perceived respect, and may be symptomatic of poor self-esteem. However, your perception of yourself (and others) may be skewed, flawed or inadequate and you may be creating issues that need not, in fact, exist.

You do not need to seek the validation of others. It is a pleasant bonus but it is not a necessity.

Learn to see the value of your own thoughts, actions and words. Let others draw their own conclusions but care less about their opinions. Be willing to see and recognise your own value, especially as you will have carefully considered your choices of thought, action and words. This is not arrogance, it is realism. You are willing to acknowledge qualities in others – apply the same criteria to yourself.

The attitude of others often reveals something about them and their outlooks. You will not appeal to everyone and it is their right to reject you or disagree with you, but that does not detract from the worth of your considered contributions (as perceived by yourself and those open to your views and mindset).

Do not assume lack of interest, rejection and even disrespect are the norm and represent a set standard. People merely reveal their own standards.  Be willing to recognise shortcomings in others whose perceptions and self-image may also be skewed or flawed.

 

Stuart Fernie (stuartfernie@yahoo.co.uk)

BLOG                                                   YouTube

Very brief reflections on low spirits and self-perception

 

Very brief reflections on low spirits and self-perception

 

This piece is one of an occasional series of articles produced

under the banner of “self-healing”

 

When we retire or withdraw (for whatever reason) from an active, focused, professional life, it is easy to become introspective, lose sight of a sense of purpose and edge toward a feeling of pointlessness or worthlessness. Of course, this sense of torpor need not be restricted to those who are ageing or who have retired. Feelings of lack of worth or failure to contribute meaningfully can strike at any age, at any one of us and with no respect for “success” or otherwise, but I would point out one thing – all these negative feelings are the result of and are dependent on your perception of yourself and your circumstances. Others may point out positive aspects of your life, your character and your circumstances but their efforts will be to no avail if you cannot adjust your perception of yourself and your situation.

So, I suggest that a first step in resolving torpor, a feeling of pointlessness or low spirits, is to make an effort to cease introspective reflection and a focus on your perceptions of failure, weakness or even guilt, which will almost undoubtedly be out of all proportion with reality, and consider others, your influence on them and their perceptions of you.

Be fair to yourself as you would be fair to and understanding of others. Recognise you may have become self-absorbed and perhaps excessively self-critical. Recognise your weaknesses but also your positive input and influence in the lives of others.

This positive influence or input may take many forms, even that of mundane interaction. If you were pleasant to a sales assistant or had a friendly word with an elderly person in the passing, you may have made that person feel valued or appreciated. At work, you may contribute positively in interactions with co-workers, clients, customers, patients, pupils or anyone in need of a helping hand. Your attention or kindness, while rather taken for granted by you, may give a boost to others.

Do not deny your positive influence. The offer of a helping hand, advice, sharing laughter, knowledge or wisdom – fleeting moments that may mean relatively little to you – may impact the lives of others and make their lives more interesting, bearable, pleasant or even more worthwhile.

Your influence or impact may seem unobtrusive but take heart from the fact that, perhaps by virtue of your very existence and by being yourself, you exercise or have exercised a positive influence on those around you and you need to be open to recognising your own input, value and worth just as you would recognise these elements in others.

 

 

Stuart Fernie (stuartfernie@yahoo.co.uk)

BLOG                                                   YouTube

 

Very brief reflections regarding therapy and self-healing

 

Very brief reflections regarding therapy and self-healing

 

This piece is one of an occasional series of articles produced

under the banner of “self-healing”

 

Although discussion of personal issues is often regarded as therapeutic in that analysis may allow a person to view issues differently, it seems to me that these “cathartic” reflections may also have the effect of reinforcing the existence of issues and augment reaction to them. Recognition need not lead to resolution. It may be advisable to avoid wallowing in feelings raised in discussion as this may perpetuate and exacerbate existing problems.

It may be advisable to try to consign issues to the past, focus on present circumstances and apply your own learned world view.

There is no need for validation, affirmation or justification as a result of past experience and what may be considered “errors” of judgement. The fact you are reflecting on the past and consider some acts or decisions as errors suggests you have regrets and have learned from the past. Reliving past errors may only reinforce the issues caused by these errors. Be the person you have learned to be, not who you were during your evolution. Recognise your achievements and skills without diminishing them or undermining them through fear and doubt which are of your own creation, or regret for actions of the past. Fear and doubt that you experienced in the past need not apply to the present or future. You have undoubtedly proved yourself (to yourself and others) many times – acknowledge that and don’t torture yourself with artificial and unwarranted doubts and fears.

Pleasing or accommodating people need not apply – any feelings of inadequacy (based on self-doubt) will have been invalidated many times. You may assert yourself and simply be yourself as your views are as valid as others’ views, perhaps even more so due to reason and insight.

Practise being calm and clear-minded. It is often thought control of emotion and the mind will lead to calm, but control of physical response to stimuli can also be immensely helpful and will allow clarity and reason to gain the upper hand in testing circumstances. Deep, regular breathing is helpful, as well as control of emotions.

Perspective and proportion are essential. Bear in mind that ultimately everyone is equally insignificant and nothing matters.

 

Stuart Fernie (stuartfernie@yahoo.co.uk)

BLOG                                                   YouTube