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 thoughts on the meaning of "success" and "worth", "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 Miserables" 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

All intellectual property rights reserved

Thoughts on the meaning of “success” and “worth”

 

Notes on the meaning of “success” and “worth”

 

Some years ago, I saw a reality TV programme in which a former popular singer seemed to suggest that the only way to measure success in life was to measure one’s financial wealth. I was stunned that any experienced, reasonably intelligent and now ageing man of the world (he was mid-seventies at the time) could be so obtuse, blinkered and limited in his outlook.

If the sole purpose of a venture is to make money, this may be viewed as a rather shallow and mercenary affair whose primary aim is self-advancement, often using the labour and efforts of others to succeed in this venture. Pride may be taken in quality of product or service but ultimately it may remain somewhat self-serving and short-sighted in scope.

Success can also take the form of realising a burning ambition or attaining a coveted position. Ambition may allow an individual to overcome challenges and achieve great things, and ego may play a healthy part in attaining success, but concentration on a particular outcome and excessive focus on how to achieve that outcome can lead to a blinkered or short-sighted view of life and may not lead to ultimate fulfilment.

A broader perspective may allow an individual to maintain a sense of proportion and to rethink priorities.

Is it truly fulfilling to achieve a goal set merely for personal benefit? Is this the act of one who is ego-driven and narcissistic to the point of failing to consider effects or impact on others? Of course, ego must play a part and respect should be given to one who shows the determination and skill to succeed, but if an act is completely self-serving, does it have the same value as an act that benefits or pleases others as well as oneself?

Equally, if an individual acts purely for the benefit of others, his/her actions will lack value and appreciation as this individual is not making a choice based on the worth of his/her contribution or perhaps he/she has so little self-respect that he/she may feel obliged to serve others.

It appears we may wish to distinguish between “success” and “worth”. Success on its own may be measured in purely financial or business terms, or in terms of personal achievement, while worth may be at least partly defined as a recognition of personal qualities and contributions to a greater whole, or a willingness to help others or perhaps please others in some shape or form.

There are all manner of ways in which to help someone; physical aid, emotional support, revealing a truth or possibly hiding a truth, influence through education and thought, encouragement to aspire to something, and financial support, to name but a few…

In general, the investing of one’s own time, effort or material goods to bring about a positive change in the circumstances, outlook or development of another individual may be considered worthy.

Of course, ego and self-respect must play a part in all of this. Selfless devotion to others may not be appreciated or truly valued. All must learn the value of helpful acts, even those who engage in the acts. Kindness should not be taken for granted and while those receiving kindness should indicate appreciation, those offering kindness have the right to expect it. A simple, sincere “thank you” is perfectly sufficient but the value of kindness should be recognised as such acts are not obligations. They are the result of choices made out of freedom and should be all the more respected and valued for that.

Respect and especially self-respect are essential elements of worth. If a person acts for selfish motives or, indeed, purely to please others, their acts may reasonably be considered less worthy than one who acts to help others but upon reflection of various aspects of the case and upon evaluation of them. An individual should judge the merits of a particular case and any action should be based on reason and consideration of motivation and impact. This process is what gives value to support or action – it is a choice and not an obligation, and should be appreciated all the more because of that.  

 

Stuart Fernie (stuartfernie@yahoo.co.uk)

 

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