THE SHADOWSCAPE – Episode 4

[draft 7-12-2025, more notes 7-14-2025]

THE SHADOWSCAPE

(e)scape for free from reality

when simplification equals clarity,
there always is something wiped away, erased.
some pieces near & dear or socially displaced,
whether existing far in time, other space.
hanging your hat there, linger long in that place,
will exact a price for putting doubt aside –
the ever deeper darkness you must abide

Remembrances of Energy Lords

Episode 4

“Erasure” (Easy clarity)

[TBS context description]

[Scene TBS]
[Image]

[The series host “Rod” walks into the scene, faces the camera, and makes a brief monolog.]

“Witness Sam Towers, newbie congressman, striving to pass a bill and mindful of his next election. Mentored well in public relations, he learned early that to govern is to simplify. Soon, he’ll learn that downplay of detail is erasure. And … when that persona is all he is, then he is easily erased – displaced into The Shadowscape.”

[Dramatic montage with music fades in and spins out to black.]

[Scene sketch / summary]

[Fade to credits]

Copyright © 2025 John P. Healy

Notes

[1] In an attention age, amid the churn of early generative AI and charming clarity, I recall a quote by Mark Twain: “It ain’t what you don’t know that gets you into trouble. It’s what you know for sure that just ain’t so.

when AI excites debate
with a cascade of hate,
who’s there to finger blame,
where’s the skin in the game?


[2] Proverbs and metaphors for the irony of seductive clarity and consequences.

• The erasure of detail: “The devil is in the details.”

“The devil is in the details” is an idiom alluding to a catch or mysterious element hidden in the details; it indicates that “something may seem simple, but in fact the details are complicated and likely to cause problems”. It comes from the earlier phrase “God is in the details”, expressing the idea that whatever one does should be done thoroughly; that is, details are important.

(AI Overview)
“The devil is in the details” is an idiom that means the small, often overlooked aspects of something can be the source of significant problems or complications. It suggests that while a project or situation might appear straightforward on the surface, hidden difficulties or catches may exist within the details. It is often used as a warning to pay close attention to all aspects, no matter how minor, to avoid potential issues.

Here’s a more detailed explanation:

Hidden Complexity:

The phrase implies that something seemingly simple can have hidden complexities or challenges that are only revealed upon closer examination of the details.

Potential for Problems:

The “devil” in the details represents the potential for mistakes, errors, or unforeseen issues that can arise from neglecting those details.

Importance of Thoroughness:

It emphasizes the need for careful attention and thoroughness in all aspects of a task or plan to ensure success.

Contrast with “God is in the details”:

The idiom is often contrasted with the older phrase “God is in the details,” which suggests that attention to detail leads to excellence or positive outcomes. While “God is in the details” emphasizes the importance of thoroughness, “the devil is in the details” focuses on the potential for problems hidden within the details.

• Successful slogans (emotional clarity) vs. sustainable governance: “The dog caught the car.” (It’s your car now; other dogs are chasing it.)

(AI Overview)
The phrase “the dog caught the car” is a metaphor. It describes a situation where someone achieves a long-sought-after goal but is then unsure of what to do next, or unprepared for the consequences. It’s like the dog’s instinct is to chase, but it lacks the capacity to understand or handle the car once it’s caught.

• The price of erasure: “Karma’s a bitch.

(AI Overview)
… when someone says “Karma’s a bitch”, they are usually suggesting that someone is experiencing misfortunes or suffering due to their previous wrongful behavior. It implies that they are getting their “just deserts” or “what goes around comes around.”

For example, the phrase: “A taste of your own medicine.”

AI Overview
“A taste of your own medicine” is an idiom that means someone experiences the same unpleasant treatment they have been giving to others. It’s often used to describe a situation where someone who has been unkind, unfair, or has caused harm to others is now experiencing the negative consequences of their actions.

Here’s a more detailed explanation:

Negative connotation:

The phrase usually has a negative connotation, implying that the person deserves the negative experience they are receiving.

Origin:

The phrase is believed to have originated from Aesop’s fable about a swindler who sells fake medicine and then is forced to take his own concoction when he falls ill.

• Simple, blanket tactics (an easy playbook in a dog-eat-dog visceral landscape): “Live by the sword, die by the sword.

(AI Overview)
While primarily referring to physical violence, the phrase can also be applied metaphorically to other areas, such as using deceit or manipulation, which can ultimately lead to one’s downfall.

• Fabricated clarity (seeding the rumor mill): “Sow the wind, reap the whirlwind.

Context: “the “wind” to mean something worthless and foolish … a veritable storm of consequence. … the principle of multiplication …”

(AI overview)
The phrase is still used today to describe situations where someone’s past mistakes or reckless actions lead to significant negative repercussions. It suggests that the consequences are not just direct results of the action, but are amplified, like a storm.