The Director: A Cautionary Tale

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Michael Garcia Mujica

"Currer Bell is neither man nor woman, but an abstract thing, an artist."

• Michael Garcia Mujica, Lead Educator in Arts and Film History.

Echoing the sentiment about Charlotte Brontë's pseudonymous voice, Michael lends his expertise not only as a writer and visual artist but also as a Lead Educator in arts and film history. Based in Coral Gables, Florida, he is the principal of Vintage Brooks, Inc., where he passionately revitalizes the legacy of silent film star Louise Brooks. His acclaimed blog, Naked on My Goat, serves as a living tribute to Brooks's enduring influence in film, her profound writing, and her broad appreciation for the arts.

Just as Brontë made an indelible mark in literature despite the societal constraints of her time, Michael accentuates Brooks's trailblazing spirit within the film industry. In his role, he ensures that Brooks's iconic voice continues to resonate within the cultural lexicon of the 21st century, celebrating the intricate victories of women in the arts, both past and present.

Explore more about the abstract persona of Charlotte Brontë in Michael's piece, "The Abstract Persona: Understanding Charlotte Brontë's Pseudonymous Journey as Currer Bell."

“I am satisfied that if a book is a good one, it is so whatever the sex of the author may be. All novels are or should be written for both men and women to read, and I am at a loss to conceive how a man should permit himself to write anything that would be really disgraceful to a woman, or why a woman should be censured for writing anything that would be proper and becoming for a man.”

• Anne Brontë, The Tenant of Wildfell Hall

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In a realm that was not so far away, nor yet so close that it could be seen from one’s window, there lived a man who went by the name of The Director. He was a self-entitled grifter, with a website longer in existence than the Heaven’s Gate cult. The Director was obsessed with a certain actress, and anyone who dared to mention her name would find themselves in the crosshairs of his venomous keyboard.

He fancied himself as the guardian of all things related to this actress. He believed that everything he said about her was gospel, and woe betide anyone who dared to contradict him. He would eviscerate them with his rapier-like wit, leaving them wishing they had never uttered her name in his presence.

The Director’s obsession with this actress knew no bounds. He would spend hours on end scouring the internet for any scrap of news related to her. He even went so far as to fabricate rumors about her, just to keep the interest alive.

But as the saying goes, pride goeth before a fall. The Director’s downfall came when he stumbled upon a group of fans who were discussing the actress. They were speaking in glowing terms about her latest performance, and The Director was beside himself with jealousy.

He couldn’t stand the fact that these fans were heaping praise on his beloved actress, and not on him. So, he decided to take matters into his own hands. He wrote a scathing review of the performance, tearing apart the actress and the film with all the vitriol he could muster.

But much to The Director’s chagrin, the fans didn’t take kindly to his words. They lambasted him for his ignorance and lack of taste. They even went so far as to compare him to Nero, fiddling while Rome burned.

The Director was taken aback. He had never been compared to such an unpopular and decadent figure before. But the comparison was not without merit. Like Nero, The Director was so consumed by his own ego and sense of self-importance that he failed to see the world around him.

But unlike Nero, The Director didn’t have the good sense to stop what he was doing. He continued to spew his venom, until one day he woke up to find that his website had been taken down.

The Director was devastated. He had built his life around his website, and now it was gone. But it was a harsh lesson that he needed to learn. He had been so obsessed with his own opinions that he had lost sight of what was truly important.

In the end, The Director realized that his obsession with this actress was nothing more than a way to feed his own ego. He had been living in a world of his own making, and now he had to face the reality that he had been wrong all along.

And so, The Director went into exile. He gave up his internet troll ways and decided to live a quiet life, far away from the noise and the crowds. But every now and then, he would hear the name of his beloved actress, and a twinge of jealousy would creep up in his heart.

But he would smile to himself and think of the lesson he had learned. He knew that there was more to life than just his own opinions. And that, my friends, is the moral of the story.

The Director’s Cut: Why Those Who Must Proclaim Their Importance Often Have None

In the popular television series Game of Thrones, the character Tywin Lannister once remarked, “Any man who must say, ‘I am the king’ is no true king.” While he was referring to the idea that a true leader doesn’t need to constantly assert their authority, the sentiment can be applied to many other situations, including dealing with people who are overly self-entitled.

Self-entitlement is a common trait that many of us have encountered at some point in our lives. It’s the belief that one is inherently deserving of certain privileges or treatment, regardless of whether or not they have earned it. However, those who feel the need to constantly assert their importance and demand special treatment are often the ones who have the least right to it.

In contrast, truly deserving individuals don’t need to constantly proclaim their worth. They are secure in their abilities and confident in their value, and they let their actions speak for themselves. So the next time you encounter someone who is overly self-entitled, remember the words of Tywin Lannister and question whether they truly deserve the recognition they seek.

Self-entitlement can be a frustrating and even toxic trait, but it’s important to remember that it often stems from insecurity and a lack of confidence. By recognizing that those who constantly proclaim their worth are often the ones who have the least to show for it, we can learn to be more compassionate and understanding toward others.