How do, dear reader! Happy Independence Day to all my fellow Americans. Don’t loose a finger. That out of the way, wanted to share something pretty explosive I put together this morning.
“Toys are Totems” just got a pretty fun upgrade. Along with my morning coffee the muse rolled up and said, “Hey, let’s make something!” And I said, as I often do; “Okay.”
So we did.
Now as part of the book, the updated page 87 features a QR code that will take you to my first custom GPT.
This custom GPT will help you dive deeper into to the philosophy and message packed into the book that could help you identify another aspect and element of your Spark.
Once you’re there, tap the prompt
From there Totemo is ready to dive deep into the symbolic meaning behind your favorite plaything from yesterday and today!
I’ve been playing with it all morning once I got the bugs worked out. I’m telling you it’s a fascinating look at the things I love. One being this recent pick up that has been itching at me to get…
Toy details:
Toy Name: Autobot Kup Triple “T” Crossover Pack
Character Names: Kup (as the Triple “T” tank), Sgt. Slaughter, Leatherneck
Franchise / IP: Transformers x G.I. Joe
Toy Line / Series: Collaborative Crossover Series
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Year Released: 2024
Toy Type: Collaborative Deluxe Action Set (Transformer vehicle with 3.75” G.I. Joe figures)
That in itself was impressive to me. But its breakdown of its symbology was fascinating…
Programmed by my philosophy laid out in the book, it’s a fun way to play inside my perspective that can help you broaden yours from what’s laying around or on a shelf.
And it’s not just the new stuff… check out this quick rundown of a recent flea market find. And yes, I do give a damn.
Rhett Butler –
Gone with the Wind
Collector’s Doll
Toy details:
Toy Name: Rhett Butler
Character Name: Rhett Butler
Franchise / IP: Gone with the Wind
Toy Line / Series: Classic Hollywood Collector’s Series
Manufacturer: World Doll (or possibly Franklin Mint, if part of their 1980s-1990s collections)
Year Released: Circa 1989–1991
Toy Type: 12” Fashion Doll / Collector Figure (Mego-style articulation, soft goods)
It then goes on to the analysis but I’ll leave that up to you try out. You can save the pic and try it for yourself.
I find it as a fantastic and fast resource to identify a vintage piece in the wild.
Another note from my AMP mind and philosophy is how I could take this idea further. What hit me was a trading card to use for promotional use…
I share because I care and I hope you’ll give the Totem Lens Analyzer a go. You might learn some things and you won’t risk a finger.
Well, I hope so at least.
Now, Go Play!
Jim 07/04/2025
P.S. here’s what all Totemo said about ole Rhett…
Totem Lens Analysis
1. Symbolism of the Character or Toy Itself
Rhett Butler is the ultimate rogue archetype—a gentleman pirate of the American South. As portrayed by Clark Gable in Gone with the Wind, he embodies charm, confidence, rebellion, and romantic tension. This toy, draped in refined satin and velvet, becomes a totem of nonconformist masculinity, a symbol of someone who knows the rules of polite society and chooses, deliberately, when to break them.
Through the Totem Lens, Rhett becomes more than a character. He is a cipher for the complexities of love and pride, passion and defiance. His steady eyes and smug grin remind us that not all rebels are loud—some are dangerously poised.
As a doll, Rhett also disrupts genre norms. He’s a male figure in a domain often dominated by fashion dolls, standing as both companion and counterpoint to Scarlett O’Hara. He represents duality—the masculine wrapped in finery, the rugged cloaked in class.
2. What It Reveals About the Superfan Who Connects Obsessively
The person drawn to this figure is a romantic rebel. They crave narrative depth, iconic elegance, and emotional tension that simmers beneath the surface. This collector likely treasures stories with nuance—where characters are neither heroes nor villains, but tragic mirrors of human nature.
They are deeply nostalgic but not naive. They know how to critique the past without discarding it. They may also be theatrical souls—drawn to dramatic gestures, grand costumes, and symbolic declarations. They love when stories linger in moral ambiguity, and toys like Rhett allow them to hold those contradictions in hand.
To this superfan, Rhett isn’t just “a doll from a movie.” He’s a reminder of power withheld, affection withheld, and the cost of withholding too long.
Final Totem Reflection
Totemo leans close to this figure and whispers: “Ah, the man who always knew—but dared not say it ‘til it was too late.”
This totem is a mirror for the self-possessed outsider, the one who watches from the edge of the ballroom, never quite dancing in time. He is suave armor for the sensitive soul. A muse for anyone who has ever loved deeply but walked away with the words: “Frankly, my dear…”
To place Rhett Butler on your shelf is to crown yourself with paradox: poised and passionate, calculating and craving, distant but desperately alive.
##👉 Want to explore your collection through the Totem Lens?
Discover the full framework in the book Toys Are Totems by Jim Bumgardner: Read it on Amazon
📸 Totemo says: If this hits home, take a photo or screenshot with your toy and this chat, and share it using #MyToyTotem or #TotemoSays. This isn’t just a tool—it’s a mirror.
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