Tag: Academy Awards

Marcus Aurelius, Invitation to a Beheading, The Seventh Seal, The School of Life, and an Italian Proverb

Marcus Aurelius, Invitation to a Beheading, The Seventh Seal, The School of Life, and an Italian Proverb

Published by Drew Alexander Ross on August 4, 2024

Sunday Supplement #169 (August 4th, 2024)

Below is another Sunday Supplement with a quote worth sharing, a book worth reading, a movie worth watching, brainfood worth consuming, and a spiritual passage worth pondering.

Please take something away from these recommendations that enriches your week ahead!

Quote of the Week:

“It is not death that a man should fear, but he should fear never beginning to live.”

– Marcus Aurelius

Book of the Week:

Invitation to a Beheading – Vladimir Nabokov

Vladimir Nabokov was a Russian novelist whose books are constantly listed among the most important novels of the 20th century.

Invitation to a Beheading isn’t Nabokov’s most famous work, but the author regarded it with high esteem.

The novel follows Cincinnatus C., a thirty-year-old teacher sentenced to death by beheading for “gnostical turpitude” in an undisclosed amount of time.

Invitation to a Beheading teeters between illusion and reality, as does its main character, Cincinattus.

Nabokov’s prose is some of the best writing I’ve ever read. It’s a complex novel to describe but one worth reading.

Movie of the Week:

The Seventh Seal

Ingmar Bergman, writer and director of The Seventh Seal, is considered one of the greatest filmmakers ever. He was nominated for nine Academy Awards in his lifetime.

The Seventh Seal is one of my favorite Bergman films. It tells the story of a knight, Antonius Block, returning to Sweden after the Crusade to find the land ravaged by the Black Plague.

Antonius Block, played by Max von Sydow, encounters Death and challenges him to a game of chess, believing he can survive as long as the game continues.

The knight seeks answers about life, death, and the existence of God as he and his squire encounter various survivors of the plague.

Older films that stand the test of time often represent the best of Cinema, in my opinion. If you have explored the classics in film, I highly recommend dipping your toes in the waters.

Brainfood of the Week:

Reasons to Remember Death | The School of Life

This The School of Life video discusses death and how useful it might be to dwell on the prospect more than we’re inclined to.

The short video makes the point of how we can be scared to fail or scared to be rejected and, in doing so, delay or avoid the lives we could be living.

In the video, The School of Life argues it could be beneficial to have a greater fear of death than our other fears so we can allow ourselves to live freely.

I’ve featured many The School of Life videos in previous Sunday Supplements. Their channel has over 9 million followers, and they make content from psychologists, philosophers, and writers devoted to helping people lead calmer and more resilient lives.

Closing Spiritual Passage:

“After the game, the King and the Pawn go into the same box.”

– Italian Proverb

Whenever I come across proverbs or spiritual passages, I like to take a deeper look at them to see if I can gather deeper meaning.

This Italian proverb points to death and its universal experience. However, I tried to look at what the proverb could mean regarding Pawns and Kings from the game of chess other than the obvious.

One interpretation could be that it doesn’t matter what you do at the end of the day. The other could be that you end up dead regardless, so why die as a Pawn?

For me, I like the idea that you might not get to decide whether you’re a King or a Pawn, but you do get to choose how you move your piece on the board before you go in the box.

Embrace the fact you will die at some point, live the best you can, and have a blessed week ahead!

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Gilbert K. Chesterton, The Spy Who Came in from the Cold, In Bruges, Island Hopper TV, and an Irish Proverb

Gilbert K. Chesterton, The Spy Who Came in from the Cold, In Bruges, Island Hopper TV, and an Irish Proverb

Published by Drew Alexander Ross on July 21, 2024

Sunday Supplement #167 (July 21st, 2024)

Below is another Sunday Supplement with a quote worth sharing, a book worth reading, a movie worth watching, brainfood worth consuming, and a spiritual passage worth pondering.

Please take something away from these recommendations that enriches your week ahead!

Quote of the Week:

“The traveler sees what he sees; the tourist sees what he has come to see.”

– Gilbert K. Chesterton

Book of the Week:

The Spy Who Came in from the Cold – John Le Carré

David John Moore Cornwell, better known by his pen name John Le Carré, worked for the United Kingdom’s MI5 and MI6 in the 1950s and 19060s.

Le Carré’s novel career began in the 1960s, and he reached international acclaim with his third novel, The Spy Who Came in from the Cold.

The novel covers shadowy dealings of international espionage through the story of a British agent who wants to retire but undertakes one final assignment, playing the part of a dishonored spy to lure the East German Intelligence to an ultimate defeat.

I’ve featured another spy novel, Ian Fleming’s Moonraker, in Sunday Supplement #60. While I enjoy the Bond novels, Le Carré’s writing has a more realistic take on the spy genre.

However, I’d recommend both novels for those interested in testing the waters of two classic novelists. The Spy Who Came in from the Cold is one of my favorites of Le Carré.

Movie of the Week:

In Bruges

Playwright and filmmaker Martin McDonagh has received six Academy Award nominations for three feature films and won an Oscar for his short film Six Shooter in 2006.

McDonagh’s first feature film, In Bruges (2009), is about a hitman and his partner hiding out in Bruges, Belgium, after a botched job.

Colin Farrell and Brendon Gleeson star in the offbeat dark comedy. Ralph Fiennes, Jordan Prentice, and Clémence Poésy have great supporting roles.

The film is engaging and quirky, but it also has an interesting depth when the two main characters explore the medieval city and engage in odd philosophical discussions.

In Bruges might not be for everyone, but I’ve found it a movie I’ve enjoyed over the years and recommend at least checking it out.

Brainfood of the Week:

Best Budget Travel Destinations in the World 2024 | Island Hopper TV

Island Hopper TV is a travel channel dedicated to providing relevant travel information and adventures worldwide. Their mission is to bring you closer to the people, cultures, and nature that make each destination unique.

This video from their channel discusses 17 different countries you can travel to, with breakdowns of the US dollar to local currency and expected conversions for food/accommodations.

I think some of the biggest barriers to travel are fearing you won’t have the means, you will run into trouble, or you won’t be able to navigate a foreign country.

This channel does a great job of providing information that helps on all fronts. And a lesson I learned from my brother is to set travel plans as far in advance as possible to ensure cheaper travel/accommodations.

Take a look at Island Hopper TV and see if you find a video that inspires you to travel!

Closing Spiritual Passage:

“Your feet will bring you to where your heart is.”

– Irish Proverb

I haven’t featured an Irish Proverb before in a Sunday Supplement, but this one stuck out to me, and I thought it was worth sharing.

The sentiment of the proverb can be positive or negative, depending on how you view it. I think it is a reminder to understand your heart and be aware of your emotions.

If you lose control of yourself, you may find your path dictated by outside influences. Awareness, reflection, and understanding will help you navigate your adventure.

Travel with an observing and full heart, and have a blessed week ahead!

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Sigmund Freud, Sleep No More, Ordinary People, Psych2Go, and a Quran Passage

Sigmund Freud, Sleep No More, Ordinary People, Psych2Go, and a Quran Passage

Published by Drew Alexander Ross on July 14, 2024

Sunday Supplement #166 (July 14th, 2024)

Below is another Sunday Supplement with a quote worth sharing, a book worth reading, a movie worth watching, brainfood worth consuming, and a spiritual passage worth pondering.

Please take something away from these recommendations that enriches your week ahead!

Quote of the Week:

“Unexpressed emotions will never die. They are buried alive and will come forth later in uglier ways.”

– Sigmund Freud

Book of the Week:

Sleep No More – Greg Iles

New York Times bestselling author Greg Iles’s Sleep Nor More follows John Waters, a successful businessman and happy family man whose life is upended by one word, “soon.”

Waters faces a memory from his past, an obsession he thought he had escaped, in the form of a stranger who whispers the word and an old lover used to share.

Stephen King’s review, which he doesn’t often do, says the novel should come with a red wrapper marked DANGER: HIGH EXPLOSIVES.

I remember reading this book many years ago; the gripping experience has always stayed with me. If you’re looking for a spooky summer read, this is it.

Movie of the Week:

Ordinary People

As I’ve stated in previous Sunday Supplements, I think it is quite a feat for films to stand the test of time. Some movies don’t even fare well after a re-watch a couple of years later.

The 1981 Academy Award Best Picture winner Ordinary People tells a powerful story that will likely continue to stand tall in Cinema history.

The film follows the grieving of an affluent family. Each member handles the death differently, and the story follows the consequences of each member’s path.

Timothy Hutton stars as the son Conrad, Donald Sutherland stars as the father Calvin, Mary Tyler Moore stars as the mother Beth, and Judd Hirsch stands out in his supporting role of Conrad’s therapist.

In addition to the Best Picture win, Ordinary People won the Oscar for Best Director (Robert Redford), Best Writing (Alvin Sargent), and Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Hutton). Mary Tyler Moore and Judd Hirsch received nominations.

Brainfood of the Week:

4 Signs You Are Still Grieving | Pysch2Go

Psych2Go’s mission is to make psychology and mental health more accessible to everyone. I’ve featured their videos in a few previous Sunday Supplements.

This video starts by discussing how we may think we’ve moved on from something or someone, but we may still be experiencing unresolved grief.

The video then gets into the four signs of unresolved grief and how you can be aware of them. At the end of the video, Pysch2Go highlights a service of affordable online counseling platform.

I’ve featured another Psych2Go video on grieving in Sunday Supplement #104. Check it out if you found this one useful.

Closing Spiritual Passage:

“We will certainly test you with a touch of fear and famine and loss of property, life, and crops. Give good news to those who patiently endure.”

– Surah Al-Baqara 155

I found this passage from the Quran an interesting look at the tests God or the world can give us and the grieving process.

When I looked at the definition of endure, I found it meant patiently suffering. From the above passage, I take away the good news of allowing a loss or hardship to process while we move forward instead of trying to rush things.

I think the messages of powering through and ignoring emotions are familiar narratives. However, by burying emotions, we can lose the opportunity to learn and to heal.

This Quran passage reminds me that it’s okay not always to feel in control or to suffer, but when we patiently endure, good news will eventually come.

Make sure to acknowledge your emotions, and have a blessed week ahead!

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Margaret Fuller, Dopamine Nation, Dallas Buyers Club, Philosophy Tube, and a Tao Te Ching Verse

Margaret Fuller, Dopamine Nation, Dallas Buyers Club, Philosophy Tube, and a Tao Te Ching Verse

Published by Drew Alexander Ross on June 9, 2024

Sunday Supplement #161 (June 9th, 2024)

Below is another Sunday Supplement with a quote worth sharing, a book worth reading, a movie worth watching, brainfood worth consuming, and a spiritual passage worth pondering.

Please take something away from these recommendations that enriches your week ahead!

Quote of the Week:

“If you have knowledge, let others light their candles in it.”

– Margaret Fuller

Book of the Week:

Dopamine Nation – Anna Lembke, MD

In Dopamine Nation, Stamford University professor of psychiatry Dr. Anna Lembke discusses our modern-day culture steeped in unprecedented access to high-dopamine stimuli.

Lembke shares stories from patients from her practice (provided with consent) that reflect the various pitfalls of addiction and paths to redemption and balance.

So much of society is geared toward seeking pleasure and avoiding pain. Lembke’s book shows the scientific studies of how the relentless pursuit of pleasure leads to pain.

I found the book incredibly insightful on addiction and how prevalent it is in our lives. Left unchecked, we can move through our days on autopilot, trying to avoid pain and seek comfort without questioning our actions or understanding their consequences.

Movie of the Week:

Dallas Buyers Club

The 2013 biographical film Dallas Buyers Club tells the story of Ron Woodroof, a cowboy who contracted AIDS in the mid-1980s.

Woodroof is told he has thirty days to live. He tries AZT, a drug approved for testing in the United States to combat the AIDS virus, but finds it doesn’t help.

The stigmatization of AIDS and those who contracted it during this time period resulted in Woodroof being ostracized by those he knew and developing friendships with people he ostracized himself.

Woodroof travels to Mexico in search of drugs to combat the AIDS virus. He finds success and makes trips to bring back the drugs to help others but faces pushback from the FDA.

Matthew McConaughey, Jennifer Garner, and Jared Leto star in the Craig Borten and Melisa Wallack written script directed by Jean-Marc Vallée. I highly recommend this Academy Award-winning film.

Brainfood of the Week:

Knowledge Explained | Philosophy Tube ft. Animalogic

Philosophy Tube is a YouTube Channel that dissects philosophical concepts with entertaining videos. Their channel has over 1.5 million subscribers and over 100 million views.

In this video, Philosophy Tube goes over two types of knowledge: knowledge – that and knowledge – how.

Knowledge – That is based on justified true beliefs. Knowledge – How is based on understanding the connection between results and your actions.

A part of the video I really enjoyed was learning about the Gettier Problem, which involves holding a justified true belief and later learning that it was wrong. Pluto is used as an example.

I thought this was a fun video that came across my YouTube feed. Check it out and check out Philosophy Tube’s channel if you are interested.

Closing Spiritual Passage:

“Those who seek knowledge, Collect something every day. Those who seek the Way, Let go of something every day.”

– Tao Te Ching (Verse 48)

The Tao Te Ching is a central Taoist text associated with the philosopher Lao Tzu. Taoism holds that humans and animals should live in balance with the universe (the Tao – The Way).

In this verse from the Tao Te Ching, I’m reminded to let go of beliefs (knowledge) that hold me back from being my best self or blind me from being open to seeing other perspectives.

I think knowledge can be good when used to better yourself or in service of others, but it can also be often used as a tool of belittling or control.

I featured Ursula K. Le Guin’s translation of the Tao Te Ching in Sunday Supplement #143. I highly recommend perusing this text if you are interested.

Think about how you use the knowledge you’ve obtained, and have a blessed week ahead!

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Edward R. Murrow, The Day of the Locust, Frost/Nixon, TED-Ed, and a Japanese Proverb

Edward R. Murrow, The Day of the Locust, Frost/Nixon, TED-Ed, and a Japanese Proverb

Published by Drew Alexander Ross on May 26, 2024

Sunday Supplement #159 (May 26th, 2024)

Below is another Sunday Supplement with a quote worth sharing, a book worth reading, a movie worth watching, brainfood worth consuming, and a spiritual passage worth pondering.

Please take something away from these recommendations that enriches your week ahead!

Quote of the Week:

“Difficulty is the excuse history never accepts.”

– Edward R. Murrow

Book of the Week:

The Day of the Locust – Nathanael West

Nathanael West was an American writer and screenwriter. Although his works didn’t receive the most acclaim during his lifetime, they received greater praise as the years passed.

The Day of the Locust follows Tod Hackett, a young artist from the Yale School of Fine Arts hired to design scenes and paint for a Hollywood studio in the 1930s.

Hackett meets a variety of Hollywood stereotypes and navigates the Hollywood American Dream while meditating on those who slipped through the cracks and were disillusioned.

West’s prose is excellent, and the novel brilliantly sheds light on the darker side of human nature with a haunting narrative of chasing glamour.

Movie of the Week:

Frost/Nixon

The Ron Howard-directed Peter Morgan-written Frost/Nixon received five Academy Award nominations, including Best Motion Picture of the Year, Best Achievement in Directing, and Best Writing – Adapted Screenplay.

Frost/Nixon is a dramatic retelling of the post-Watergate television interviews between British talk-show host David Frost and former President Richard Nixon.

The cast of Frank Langella (Oscar-nominated for his role as Nixon), Michael Sheen (as Frost), Sam Rockwell, Rebecca Hall, Kevin Bacon, Matthew Macfadyen, Toby Jones, and Oliver Platt all put in stellar performances.

I feel like many people haven’t seen Frost/Nixon, and it has so much to appreciate. Some historical films can be overdone or miss their mark. Check out this one.

Brainfood of the Week:

3 Tips on How to Study Effectively | TED-Ed

The TED-Ed video starts by providing the example of medical students’ studies being vital to saving lives, then teases research on effective study techniques, and then moves into understanding how the brain stores information.

TED-Ed’s mission is to create lessons worth sharing through their award-winning animated shorts.

I’m a big fan of these short videos, and they tend to pack a few key learning points in each video that are worth checking out.

I don’t want to spoil too much of the video since it’s only five minutes, but I’ll mention the overview of how making mistakes can improve long-term memorization.

It reminds me not to be afraid of failure and to constantly test and update my current pool of knowledge. Check out the video and see what you pick up!

Closing Spiritual Passage:

“Time flies like an arrow.” (光陰矢の如し)

– Japanese Proverb

This Japanese proverb emphasizes that life is short, goes by quickly, and doesn’t wait for anyone. It reminds us to make the best of each day.

I like breaking the proverb down further and thinking about how shooting an arrow has many components. The one that sticks out for me in this proverb is picking a target.

It’s vital to look ahead at where we’re aiming. Time goes by quickly, and if you are unaware of your direction, it can be harder to change your target the longer you wait.

Minor degrees of change each day compound and affect the direction of your life negatively or positively.

Choose how you write the chapters of your life’s story, and have a blessed week ahead!

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