Something Snapped

After watching "Doctor Sleep" with Rebecca Fergusan and Ewan McGregor, I followed up with "Bring Her Back" with Sally Hawkins. All are fine actors but the content related to Satanic practices and child abduction and murder. I followed up with Tom Hardy in "Havoc" about crime gangs with the inevitable murder and mayhem. Actually I only watched the start of "Havoc" before exiting. I'd had enough. Something snapped in me and I asked myself why am I watching this. 

This is what people are consuming on a regular basis at the expense of the written word. I asked the question "is reading declining" and here was the response:

Yes, reading, particularly for pleasure, is declining. Studies indicate a decrease in reading frequency and engagement across various demographics, including younger generations. This trend is attributed to the rise of digital media, changes in educational approaches, and evolving societal habits. 

I've fallen into this trap myself, favouring watching over reading. However, the increasingly woke content in recent movies and series has increasingly annoyed me and helped make me ripe for "snapping". There's so much more that I could be doing with the limited time remaining to me than watching this current cinematic crap. I must limit my "watching" and increase my reading. 

I also need to spend more time on exercises like Qidong but I'll write more about that in my "Staying Healthy" blog. I must resume my chess playing that has been put on hold ever since I set foot in Australia. I'm in need of a major reset. If I don't initiate it myself then it may be initiated on my behalf.

HUIS-CLOS

I came across the phrase "huis-clos" in a movie review and sought ChatGPT's help to illuminate its meaning:

What does the phrase "huis-clos" mean and can you give some examples of its use.

The phrase "huis-clos" is a French term that translates to "closed doors" in English. It is commonly used to describe a situation or setting where a group of people are confined or locked in together, typically in a confined space or a private setting. It often implies a sense of seclusion, privacy, or intimacy.

"Huis-clos" is also known as the title of a famous play written by Jean-Paul Sartre, titled "Huis Clos" or "No Exit" in English. The play explores existentialist themes and features three characters who are trapped together in a room for eternity. The phrase "hell is other people" is a well-known line from this play, highlighting the tension and psychological dynamics among the characters in their confined space.

In general usage, the term "huis-clos" can be used to describe various scenarios where individuals find themselves in a confined or private setting, often with a sense of intensity, intimacy, or limited external access. For example, it can be used to describe a closed-door meeting, a private conversation behind closed doors, or a group of people stuck together in an isolated location. 

How is the phrase pronounced in English?

In English, the phrase "huis-clos" is typically pronounced as "wee-kloh." Here's a phonetic breakdown:

"huis" is pronounced like "wee" (rhyming with "see").

"clos" is pronounced like "kloh" (rhyming with "mow").

So, when put together, it sounds like "wee-kloh."

Can you give some examples of English language huis-clos movies.

Certainly! "Huis clos" is a French term that translates to "no exit" or "behind closed doors." It refers to a narrative or setting where characters are confined to a specific space or situation, often leading to intense psychological and interpersonal dynamics. While the term originated from Jean-Paul Sartre's play "Huis Clos," here are some examples of English-language films with similar themes: 

"12 Angry Men" (1957) - A group of jurors deliberates in a closed room, exploring issues of justice, prejudice, and human nature. 

"Dogville" (2003) - The film presents a small town where the entire story unfolds on a minimalistic stage, examining themes of power, morality, and societal dynamics.

"The Breakfast Club" (1985) - A group of high school students is stuck in Saturday detention, leading to unexpected connections and revelations. 

"Rope" (1948) - Alfred Hitchcock's film takes place in a single apartment where two friends commit a murder, and the tension escalates as guests arrive for a dinner party. 

"Rear Window" (1954) - Another Hitchcock classic, the film features a wheelchair-bound photographer who suspects his neighbor of murder, observing the events from his apartment window.

These films demonstrate the concept of characters confined to a specific space or situation, where their interactions and conflicts drive the narrative.

Gaslighting

The term gaslighting was coined from a movie starring Ingrid Bergman. There is an article about its use in a 21st century context here. The article begins:

If you’re following the commentary surrounding the presidential election, you may have noticed the word gaslighting popping up with increasing frequency. To gaslight means, per the Oxford English Dictionary, to “manipulate (someone) by psychological means into doubting their own sanity.” It’s normally used to describe emotional abuse in a relationship, e.g., a cheating husband who tells his wife she’s crazy, misremembering, or “imagining things” when she points out signs of his infidelity. But thanks to recent campaign tactics, it’s becoming a political term. For example, after Tuesday night’s vice presidential debate, Slate ran an editorial titled “This Wasn’t a Debate. This Was a National Gaslighting,” which cites multiple examples of Mike Pence denying that Donald Trump said things that he actually, provably said. What does that have to do with gaslights, you might ask? The connection actually comes from a popular 1944 suspense film called Gaslight, in which a man (Charles Boyer) conspires to convince his wife (Ingrid Bergman) that she’s going mad.

This got me thinking about terms used in English that derive from movies. I did a little research and come up with some other terms (source dated 2nd January 2014):

1. “You’re killing me smalls” – This famous line from the American movie The Sandlot has become a popular phrase to use in informal situations since the movie was first released in 1993. Usually, if a person is frustrated by another person’s ignorance or lack of commitment to some kind of work, they might use the phrase; “you’re killing me smalls.” 

2. “Sweet” – This famous saying first appeared in the American movie Wayne’s World and became a fashionable way to say ‘great’ or ‘wonderful’. This is one phrase that I use all the time: if something is going perfectly, I will say ‘sweet!’ 

3. “I don’t think we are in Kansas anymore” – This phrase is from a classic movie, The Wizard of Oz, released in 1939. Usually, this phrase is used when the location that you are in is unfamiliar to you, and you feel lost. 

4. “There’s no place like home” – This quote is also from The Wizard of Oz. It’s often used when a person returns from a trip and is happy to be at home. I usually use this idiom after I get home from long trips and lay down on my bed. 

5. “Houston, we have a problem” – This famous quote from the movie Apollo 13, released in 1995, has well and truly entered everyday language in America. If someone is experiencing any type of a problem, this phrase can be used to point it out. 

I'd not heard of the first mentioned phrase and that's probably because its use is largely restricted to the USA.