An obvious saying for those who know it, and if you don’t, it shouldn’t take too much thought. An overloading leading to a collapse. But it was more the material used in that saying that caught my attention, as well as the overall intention.

The Wicker Man (1973) – portrayed as the pagan ritual to burn the outsider in an all very cultish way. But, also seems very much to represent the shunning of modern times and legal entities, with a person of that ‘system’ making their own way to the island, looking with eyes made for something else. And missing what was right in front of his face. And that he, with all his legal fiction and created persona around that, found himself becoming the main part of the burning and sacrifice.

The Scarecrow – originating back as far as 3,000 BC they say, in Egypt. Obviously, we know what they are for, the name is a giveaway. But what is it? It is a fake man, a pretend man, the image of a man.

Strawman – a strange term and one that comes up now and again. “In the context of legal theory, a “strawman entity” refers to the idea that a person has two personas: a physical, living person and a separate legal entity (the “strawman”) that is created upon birth and is subject to statutory law”. Seems quite straightforward, and also seems straightforward that once people understand how it all works, that strawman entity that has been created on your behalf, doesn’t quite seem as tangible as it once did. Because it is through that legal system you are funnelled, repeatedly being told you are subject to the rule of law, you are a subject of the realm, you will be subjected to punishment if you stray from your allocated path and set of rules.

“Straw Man Fallacy: It’s important to note that the term “strawman” can also refer to a straw man argument, which is a fallacy where someone misrepresents an opponent’s position to make it easier to attack or refute.”

The Wizard of Oz – Lion of nature, to the strawman of legal fiction, to the robot of tin – a progression of man perhaps. Of where it was intended to go, starting off as a child, turning into a roaring lion, slowly worn down into a cowardly lion. Changing then into that legal fiction, the scarecrow made of straw, with rules, fears and mortality chasing him down with every step. Moving finally into the robotic phase, with no heart and a mechanical vulnerability caused by weather conditions.

And just as the article title points out, there is a capacity to which one can carry the straw weight put upon it. Stuffed with more straw than we could possibly stomach, with more lined up to keep us quiet and compliant, constructing our wicker man around us. And perhaps this is where Being Real ties in, with Pinocchio being a wooden version of the same thing, and in a quest to be ‘real’ end up being led further astray and down a dark path. Where although there appears to be a light at the end of tunnel, as you take a closer look, you see it’s a rather large bonfire they have set up to see that you go ‘up in flames’ on your way through. But really, maybe that’s just a mental baptism of fire that is necessary, to let the fictional rules of humans burn away and turn to ash, clearing and cleansing so that something else can have it’s time…

(c) MKW Publishing