🤡 Everybody Plays the Fool 🔥
There's no exception to the rule 🌸
Paper Crane Feelings #12
Dear Friend,
What do you do when you feel foolish?
I’m wondering because feeling foolish has been on my mind a lot recently, because the concept of The Fool is a big ol’ significant part of The Wicker Man (1973).
I came up with loads of times I’ve felt like a fool. I even created the little sketch above to laugh at myself a bit for those times, depicting myself in the Punch/Fool costume from The Wicker Man. It was oddly therapeutic.
I especially feel foolish when I think of myself in relation to just about anything on the internet. Social media is a big one, but since I’m currently communicating with you through “Paper Crane Feelings,” let’s pick on newsletters for a moment.
I received an email a few months ago from a company apologizing for sending out a future newsletter. I looked it up and the premature email was meant to be the 2nd in a series about a new product to be released soon. The message thanked everyone for the amazing response… to a product which hadn’t even been launched yet, let alone received a response, amazing or otherwise.
Since I’m not a complete fool (just kinda), I do understand that most online content is written in advance and scheduled to be published on a later date. Sending out an email early is an honest mistake, but it made me feel a little strange, like seeing the code to the matrix.
Much of what we see on the internet, for better or worse, is designed to fool or manipulate. Just consider articles with click-baity headlines, constant in-your-face advertisements, and even your friend from middle school who only posts inspirational quotes and always tries to get you to sign up for the latest pyramid scheme they’ve been sucked into. And don’t even get me started on the algorithm! (This just feels like my catchphrase now.)
My experience on social media got to the point where it felt more icky than it was worth. I started to relate too much with The Fool in The Wicker Man. I recently deleted most of my personal social media accounts and have been trying to get more of my updates and information from newsletters. The manipulation factor is still there obviously, but at least I get to choose what I see in my inbox.
This process has highlighted for me that there’s nothing wrong with acknowledging that I am possibly being manipulated or that I don’t have enough information. In fact, it gives me an opportunity to reassess and adjust my relationship to whatever has made me feel foolish. The Wicker Man shows a chilling (and rather extreme) example of the pitfalls of steamrolling through a situation without ever considering that you may actually be playing the fool. (Another valuable lesson — it pays to not be judgmental and condescending when you are visiting a small remote island without cell phone or internet access.)
Finally, considering that I am just a li’l fool with a newsletter, I want to say that I’m so grateful you have chosen to be here with me!
Current Projects
Technical Difficulties.
There were some technical difficulties sending out “Paper Crane Feelings” last time. My newsletter tool, Buttondown, addressed the issue and said they are working on improvements so hopefully things will go a little more smoothly with this one.
Snail Mail Club.
SPRING. I so desperately wanted cards to go out today… for May Day! (May Day is an important day for the inhabitants of Summerisle in The Wicker Man.) I am nearly done with the cards, though. They are so close! It’s the most complicated scene I’ve drawn so far, and there are MANY little characters. I can’t wait for you to see!
SUBSCRIPTION PRICE UPDATE REMINDER. Just a reminder that the minimum monthly fee for Snail Mail Club membership is supposed to go up from $2 to $3 per month for new members today (5/1). (This should not affect current members signed up at the $2 level.)
If you are someone who’s thought about joining and would like to try Snail Mail Club, I won’t make the change until tomorrow afternoon (5/2), so you can still have a chance to sign up at the lower price. As always, infinite gratitude to members who contribute over the minimum, and huge thanks to all members. You all keep me making silly little cards!
WHAT IS DEAR CHIZUKO SNAIL MAIL CLUB? SMC members receive unique handmade cards four times per year that are inspired by the seasons. Additional items are included in every release such as stickers, bookmarks, and other surprises. If you aren’t already a member, you can sign up through Ko-fi HERE! Thank you, SMC members!
Website stuff.
Not much is new so just a reminder about the Spring Playlist - The Wicker Cat.
It’s got some on-the-nose choices (”Queen of the May”) along with some super silly ones (”Funny Little Frog”). It also features “Everybody Plays the Fool” by The Main Ingredient, which is quoted in the newsletter title and is just a great freaking song, isn’t it?
Luna.
Speaking of fools, there are many reasons we have to fool poor anxious Luna. One example comes up while watching sports. Luna is extremely sensitive to noise. Also, she gets very upset if we seem upset. We follow the Denver Nuggets and have been watching playoff basketball over the last couple weeks, so yelling at the TV does not go over well. We have figured out that you can still curse at the game as long as you do it in really soothing tones.
If you have an anxious pet, do you have to do anything similar?
Recent Inspirations.*
Reading.
Heretics of Dune (1984). This week on How You Dune?! I finished the fifth book in Frank Herbert’s Dune series and I didn’t think things could get any wilder than a massive man-sandworm-god-emperor… but I was wrong. There’s a LOT of characters in this one, so a lot of threads to follow. Heretics of Dune features more action scenes that I’ve noticed in a while, and I think Herbert writes those well.
Watching.
Jodorowsky's Dune (2013). This seemed like a logical next step for my Dune journey, and it’s pretty amazing. Alejandro Jodorowsky is definitely a creep and they do not try to hide that in this documentary. However, I’m always fascinated by his commitment to his art. Very inspiring to see him try to build his dream project and very relatable to watch the story of how everything fell apart.
(I try to remind myself that assholes can and do make art. And they are probably doing it without worrying what anyone else thinks. If that isn’t motivation to just go make your art, then I don’t know what is.)
The Shrouds (2024). I actually left the house last weekend! I met up with my friend Derek (who is also a Snail Mail Club member!) to watch the most recent film from director David Cronenberg. The movie was maddeningly confusing and I loved it! I may write about it more in a journal post because I’ve been thinking about it so much.
Derek and I chatted for an hour after the movie and then texted about it the rest of the evening. Cronenberg is one of my favorite directors for that very reason — his films stay with you long after the credits roll.
*These are not necessarily recommendations… more like things that tickled my brain and got my neurons firing that I wanted to share.
In conclusion.
What are you enjoying about Spring? Is there anything you are so excited about that you feel a bit… foolish? Well, that’s okay because everybody plays the fool sometimes. ❤️
I am most excited about being close to wrapping up my Wicker Man themed project for Spring so I can share it with you soon. A big thank you to Karen for suggesting my favorite film, The Wicker Man!
Sincerely,
đź’– Becky H
đź’š Dear Chizuko
Visit the newsletter archive
Visit my website
Contact me
