The Self-Entitled
• 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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Once upon a time, in a land of self-entitled folks, there lived a man named Harold who was the king of them all. He had a singular obsession – an actress from the golden age of Hollywood named Clara Bow.
Harold was so convinced that Clara Bow was the love of his life, despite never having met her, that he decided to take a pilgrimage to Hollywood to find her. He sold all of his possessions, including his throne and crown, and set off on his quest.
When he arrived in Hollywood, he was disappointed to learn that Clara Bow had long since retired and was nowhere to be found. Undeterred, he went door-to-door asking anyone and everyone if they knew of her whereabouts. Finally, he was led to an old woman who claimed to be a close friend of Clara’s.
The old woman listened to Harold’s tale of woe, until finally she said, “Well, well, well. It seems you’ve come all this way for nothing. Clara passed away years ago, my boy.”
Feeling deflated, Harold trudged through the streets, muttering to himself about the injustice of it all, when he stumbled upon a poster for a local theater production. The lead actress was none other than Clara Bow! Overcome with excitement, Harold rushed to the theater and was spellbound by the performance.
At the end of the show, he approached the actress, ready to declare his love and ask for her hand in marriage. But before he could even get a word out, the actress said, “I’m afraid you have me confused with someone else. My name is Claire, not Clara.”
Harold was dumbfounded. He had become so fixated on his idea of Clara Bow that he had failed to see the real people and experiences around him. He left the theater feeling foolish, much like the mythological figure who was so enamored with his own reflection that he failed to recognize the beauty in those around him, or the fool who flew too close to the sun and burned his wings.
From that day forward, Harold learned to live in the present and appreciate the humor and wit of the world around him. And though he never did find his one true love, he lived a happy and fulfilling life, never forgetting the valuable lesson he learned on his quest for Clara Bow.
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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