Movie Mindfulness
It’s dangerous; using film as examples or metaphors, I know, but a message must be sent in the best way it can be received.
Myths, stories, narratives… are both a gift and a curse we bestow on ourselves. Everything from stereotypes, a worldview, and a cultural identity arise from them. This is one reason their critical analysis is so important.
We should change the way we watch films, how we consume all media, it makes us more aware of what we can learn from them and how they influence us. Once we recognize an illusion as an illusion, or deception as deception we are no longer a slave to them; if believing things that are not true can bring suffering.
It also helps us develop skills, intellect, insight, and perspective that make us less vulnerable to bad decision making. There is no cure for making mistakes, but awareness is a great start.
Black Swan (2010)
The story of a ballet dancer.
Director: Darren Aronofsky
Starring: Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis
Company: Twentieth Century Fox/Fox Searchlight
Suffering
Ignorance is the root of all suffering – believing things that are not true or suffering delusions. The protagonist (Nina) gets caught up in fantasies delusions believing them to be true. They cause her to suffer.
• Having no one believes her – She tries to explain to Thomas that Lily wants her part and is “playing mind games” with her.
• Nina Experiences physical suffering – the rash and the physical demands of being a dancer.
• Nina’s extreme behavior – there is no Middle way or balance; her extreme denial of food and her quest to be perfect.
The Untrained Mind
The untrained mind can never know peace, has no free will, or inner discipline.
• You become a slave to your own thoughts and emotions.
• You create a negative state of mind that can turn into negative behavior or actions.
• It destroys your perception. You no longer “see” reality or can gain Wisdom/Truth.
Mental Development or inner strength is not about being smarter. Sometimes it’s about not being a slave to the negative states of mind.
Duality
Drama and conflict come from this polarization.
• The white Swan versus the Black swan (Twins)
• Good versus evil
• The child Versus The woman she wants to be
There are two extremes fighting within her this creates inner conflict that manifests itself in crazy behavior.
Mind Games
• Having no one believes her – She tries to explain to Thomas that Lilly wants her part and is “playing mind games with her.
• Lilly pretends to be a friend
• (Lilly) Approaches her at her home (personal and shows intent)
• Lily pulls Nina into a negative environment (the bar/nightclub). (Context/situation)
• Told Thomas that Nina had been crying. Planting Doubt into his mind about Nina.
• Lily encourages drug use – an altered state of mind – taking away Nina’s ability to make good decisions, have clarity.
• Lily then takes Nina’s place at rehearsal the next day because has trouble recovering from Lily’s invite the night before.
• Openly embarrasses(using shame) Nina when she asks Lily about the night before
• Tries to get Nina to say she is sleeping with Thomas
Lily’s “attacks” are not overt, like most evil acts. Regardless, she is a villain because she creates obstacles for our hero, acts with the intention to hurt someone (the hero), is motivated by personal gain (becoming the swan queen), and she doesn’t think about or care about the consequences of her actions.
What Lily has is deniability she hides her agenda so well that if Nina makes an accusation, Nina sounds crazy or paranoid.
Labels and Judgments
• “My sweet girl” – Her mother’s label of her as a child. It keeps her from becoming a woman/ the black swan.
• “My little princess” – Her mentor’s label of his stars/women.
If she accepts these labels she restricts what she can become in the future she never becomes a woman, the black swan.
Obsession / Want and Craving
Evidence and examples of extreme behavior
• Ringtone: Swan Lake
• The music box: Swan Lake
• Throwing up: Her weight
Counterproductive emotions
• Emotions take away clarity
• Makes a bad decision – Trust Lily.
• Fear of Failure - Causes Suffering.
• Lust for lily – Causes Delusions
• Drug Use – Made more easily deceived
Believing Material Things have power
• Nina steals Beth’s things. Beth is “perfect” and Nina believes owning her things will make her perfect.
• Trying to find what you need from the external world.
The Dark, Grey Chaos
The Dark, Grey Chaos is a pattern or journey of suffering created by negative external and internal forces.
• Mind Blindness (Extreme stress) cultivates polarized, either/or thinking
• High emotional state hinders critical & decision-making skills
• Thoughts are embraced as reality
• It’s the trauma of an event in your life that may never go away and may cause “triggers.”
Extreme Behavior
Nina’s extreme behavior – no middle way or balance. Her extreme denial of food and her quest to be perfect. Is there even such a thing as perfect? What makes her a good dancer can be made to hurt her in the right situation; even strength in the hands of the wrong person can be used to against her.
Mind Effects Body
Nina experiences physical suffering – the rash and the physical demands of a dancer.
Elizabeth (1998)
The story of the early days of Elizabeth I, it is also a story of a young woman’s journey from childhood to queen, from naïveté to ruthlessness and power. It’s an ordinary person’s journey into the madness of power and conquering using certain tactics and strategies.
Starring: Cate Blanchett
Company: Universal Studios
The Six Parts
I have divided the strategic journey of Elizabeth I into six parts.
• Fear of the Unknown
• Emotions
• Enemies
• The Master Argument
• External Forces
• Themes
Fear of the Unknown
Fear is the major influence in the first part of the film. It’s this fear that dictates the behavior of key characters.
Scene 1 – Being a Threat
The Paranoia of Power; the queen starts to see threats from everywhere. A meeting with Queen Mary: Elizabeth is being seen as a threat, even though there is no proof of her involvement.
• The isolation that power sometimes brings also creates a certain kind of madness.
• They come for Elizabeth and she is arrested for treason.
• Queen Mary is afraid of death (the Unknown) which only added to the chaos and fog in her mind.
Scene 2 - Her First Argument
Drilled, questioned to try and get her to confess to something she did not do.
• Interrogation tactics are used to try and get Elisabeth to admit to something she did not do.
Emotions
Emotion can be a deterrent to sound decision making. Elizabeth handles it masterfully.
Scene 3 - Her Second Argument
Meets with Queen Mary and the Queen asks her why she won’t confess her crimes.
• “You will be killing your sister.”
• “He was also my father.”
• Keeping Emotions in Check
• Queen Mary Insulted but dead mother and keep her cool
• Faces the wolves with dignity, emotions in check
• Denys crimes again
• Queen Mary is also facing death but doesn’t handle it as well.
• Tells the truth, even facing death. It is a sign of her courage.
• Remained Humble by calling herself the Queen’s humble servant.
Enemies
Wallingham, her protector and one of the world’s first spies, keeps from being killed by distracting his attacker.
Scene 3 - Distract Your Enemies
• Wallingham will return.
• Wallingham was one of the first spies and one of the first to create a network of spies.
• Detached from the emotion he simply does what has to be done. Emotion is separate from the job that has to be done.
• A young boy tries to kill him
• He (Wallingham) distracts him with words then kills him
• In Wallingham, you can see the influence of an Indian director. Basic Hindu beliefs are present in the character.
Scene 4 – Consultants
This scene illustrates how situations can create the potential for bad decisions.
• Time limits
• Alt. state – tired
• “Be slow to take action; don’t be afraid of your own shadow.”
• Patience and don’t become paranoid
Scene 5 - A Mistake is made
She was set-up to look bad by those who are supposed to help and support her.
• Children die
• Bishops demanded her removal
• Takes responsibility that power demands
The Master Argument
A major turning point in the film this is my favorite scene because Elizabeth applies many rhetoric tactics to win her argument.
Scene 6 – Her Second Argument
What can we learn from the new queen’s second argument? A lot.
She Practiced Her Argument
She practiced her argument out loud in order to evaluate its strengths and weaknesses.
“Serving Two Masters”
She used logic or logos by asking a question. How do you serve to masters? Meaning how do you serve the Catholic Church (or the pope) and the Protestant Church (or their Queen)
“I am Just a Woman”
What I call, a humble joke. Sure, she is just a woman, but she is also the queen. Showing humility or defaulting to another governing body to get what she wants; while at the same time using her charm to change the mood from one of hostility to one that would make them more receptive to persuasion.
“It is common sense – English virtue”
Good rhetoric –What is she implying? It’s a virtue, it’s very English, and it’s smart. Meaning you would be doing something good, it’s patriotic; it would mean you are smart.
Barrack Obama used the same “it’s common sense” argument when discussing the economy.
“You have been married three times”
Discredits her opponent using humor by bringing up his marriage history. Using humor keeps the mood from returning to a hostile and resistance environment.
“Who should I marry? One of each?”
Using her opponent’s argument against itself; she makes what looks like a concession to make fun of it later making it sound ridiculous.
Why ask her to marry, she says okay, but just who should she marry?
Emotional (Ethos) Plea
“Follow your conscience”, “Peace and happiness for her people.”
External Forces
Indirect attacks create an external influence that can dictate actions and behavior.
Scene 7 – An Outside Force
• Approach the friends/lovers
• infiltrating the enemy
• Indirect actions (Unseen) – Walingham’s actions
• Seduction
• Murder
Scene 8 – “You Can Only Trust Me”
• Revenge for rejection – lover
• “I am the only one to care for you.” – Lord Robert (You can only trust me.)
• No second opinion and isolation
• Approached by Spain
• “WHY do you do this?”
Scene 9 - Takes control
• Attacks her enemies
• “I am my father’s daughter.”
• Rewards loyalty and kindness
How Do You Persuade?
Overall the Queen Elizabeth did Three Key Things:
• Changed and controlled the mood (with jokes)
• Planted thoughts (Using suggestions, comments)
• Asked for action/Encourage a behavior
Themes
The Power of Religion
Never underestimate the influence of belief. People all around the world die for their beliefs every day.
Master Stress
She lived knowing of a constant attempt on her life (fear of death)
An either/or choice (France or Spain)
When given the choice between France and Spain she chooses neither. She escapes the polarizing decision.
Sets up Enemies
Give them room to hang themselves by giving them something they can’t resist.
Punishes and Destroys, but was not Cruel
Keeps a certain amount of compassion, even for those who would have killed her
Recognizes the Need for Symbols and Becomes One
She understood the power of the symbol of the Virgin Mary, so becomes the symbolic virgin herself.
Value Wit and Kindness
Elizabeth had two qualities (Outside a great mind for strategy) that I think all should embrace; Compassion and wit.
Summary
The Intention is to make a positive social change; to encourage social good and social responsibility. This change starts by reaching deep within ourselves and giving others what they need to do the same.
When I walked into a bookstore I saw a ton of books on mindfulness and happiness. So, I decided to write about just the opposite: Mindlessness and suffering. Why?
• To gain a better understanding of life’s obstacles
• To understand why we make the mistakes we make
• To understand what motivates us.
• To talk about what most of us don’t want to talk about or want to pretend doesn’t exist.
This is how change happens.
