(The above image is a poster I painted in acrylic and ink. The original
was a small hand-bill made for the movie when it was released.)
In 1927, ''Metropolis'', a movie by the German film director Fritz Lang was released.
Some view it as the first ''real'' Sci-Fi movie ever made, and many consider it a
masterpiece.
Story line: A city set in a futuristic urban dystopia with a privileged class living
''on top'' and an exhausted, over-worked and mistreated working class
living beneath, The Underworld.
The people living beneath live in squalor, working day and night to keep the
machinery going, while the privileged class above remain oblivious.
By accident a man from the ''top'' discovers the ''underworld''
and what they have to endure in order for the privileged to enjoy
their frivolous and carefree lives. He joins the underworld rebellion
lead by Maria, which puts him at odds with his father.
A struggle ensues for the liberation of the workers and
for a son from his father.
(This movie is in black and white, but it is a visually stunning movie, and the remake,
made in 2010, may I suggest, even more so.)
The story line is not unusual, it is probably one of the most common
story lines mankind keeps regurgitating in one form or another.
Somehow we seem stuck in the mindset of thinking that some people
are just more important and more valuable than others.
Actually, as far as I can ascertain, most cultures seem to teach it.
I can't help but wonder where and when this notion first appeared.
Is a doctor more important and valuable than a garbage truck driver?
If you need meds, yes, but not if the garbage hasn't been collected.
Is a teacher more important and valuable than a waiter/waitress?
If you want to learn maths, yes, but not if you want your food.
Is a Politician more important and valuable than an
electrician?
If you want a bill passed, yes, but not if you want light and hot water.
Can comparisons even be made?
If you say ''no, because there are too many variables to be considered'',
then I agree.
Broadly speaking, one could perhaps say that people in positions in which
they hold the power to make decisions that affect many peoples lives
can be viewed as being important positions, alas, they become
important people.
Perhaps similarly, people who hold positions that are highly specialized
and of the ''expert'' variety can be viewed as valuable and important.
In short, the people who hold the power to affect any kind of change
to our lives (including against our will) and our circumstances,
often tend to become important and valuable to most of us.
However,
looking at importance and value from another perspective,
a personal perspective rather than a ''positional/the jobs
we do'' perspective, I contend that all human beings
are important and valuable one way or another.
Point in case: self-value, which is about how
we act and behave toward that/those which we value and deem
important. (This includes ourselves and how we care for
ourselves.)
Some say that if we value ourselves, we take care of our
physical and mental health, we endeavor to improve
our development in line with our values, and correct behaviours
that are not congruent with those values.
Self-value tells us that we do not need to devalue anyone
in order to know our own value. Some say that by valuing others,
more often than not, we increase our sense of self-value.
But this means that we need to know what our values
are and this may necessitate spending some time
''fishing'' them up from our subconscious.
(According to those in the know, commonly we
are not usually aware of what our values are, they operate
somewhat in the background, a bit like gut instinct.)
So, how can we find out what our values are?
We need to ask ourselves what we truly value in life,
and then make a mental note of what those values are
and how we can best act/behave in order
to reinforce those values.
Tip:
When we act contrary to our values, we often
feel uneasy and conflicted.
Once the privileged man discovered the Underworld in Metropolis,
he also discovered that his value system was being challenged.
He could no longer go back to his privileged life and although
this caused friction with his father, he stayed true to his values.
''Every act from the heart is ultimately of equal value.
Monetary income and or a position of power is a
perfect deceiver of a person's self-worth.''
(an elaboration of a quote by Criss Jami)
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