A reading of my article – A Reformed Idea

(c) MKW Publishing

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

A reading of my article – Burning Your Bridges

(c) MKW Publishing

A reading of my article – On The Ground

(c) MKW Publishing

“It’s just a bit of fun, isn’t it? Playing make-believe and pretending to be someone else. With costumes, scenery, make-up and adopting a different persona, people are convinced of what they see. Suspending reality for a moment or a short time to be immersed in the fakery, your own brain playing along and helping to create and sustain the illusion.”

Taken from my article Deceivers, Or Just Entertainment?, which looked at it more from the audience point of view, of how we play our role willingly for the most part. Although as I thought that, I remembered two film references of forced viewing being part of a re-conditioning ritual. A Clockwork Orange and Addams Family Values. Even more so for the second one, as it was Disney films Wednesday was made to watch, to friendly her up and make her get into the ‘spirit of things’.

But for this, I have been wondering on the type of person and mentality that wants and likes to pretend to be something else. We used to call them con artists and charlatans I thought, ones who set out to deliberately convince you of something for their own personal gain, and usually a loss to you. And for this exchange, they get attention and adulation as well as apparently lots of money. And you lose your time, and sometimes your own aspirations and wants, as you are so focused on idolising something that doesn’t really exist. In life and business, there is much to look out for, but as we are an opportunistic species, I understand how it happens, and as it has in some capacity served us well, I can’t say it is entirely a bad thing. What does seem to have become a bad thing however, is where it is now the prevailing attitude in many, to trick and deceive as a matter of course, in many industries. Where they are so used to pretending to be the authority on things, or matters of health or justice, on education or knowledge, that it’s almost as if they themselves have forgotten it’s a ruse. And shocked they are when it is pointed out to them, because they ended up believing their own bullshit I guess, with many playing along to make it so, like in the film A Beautiful Mind.

Like in the circus though, when you have the performing animals and people, they aren’t always there in an entirely voluntary capacity. And from some of the things you notice in the celebrity world that gets portrayed in the media, occasionally there is a moment here and there, where it all slips. The glitz and glamour suddenly lose their sparkle and you see a glimpse of a circus monkey, being wheeled out on their trike, to wow the audience and keep those tickets selling and then take bow. Because if someone was talented enough to enthral the masses as they say, then someone else might just realise what an advantage that may pose. Being wholeheartedly convincing when putting on an act, a play, a ruse to deceive the viewers instinct and senses, maybe that’s why they call laws ‘acts’ as well, because it is all part of the bigger stage show and set, and one we allow ourselves to be conned by…

(c) MKW Publishing