So of course I had to. I dialed. And I heard Sean do a simple, beautiful reading of Mary Oliver’s “Morning Glories.” It was moving—much more than I expected—because it’s so personal, so intimate, from a perfect stranger. I was touched. I felt connected. Tara, your reflections on how and why this happens are probing and profound. Especially appreciate your thoughts on anonymity and privilege—putting them in a larger social & philosophical context. Am loving each of you rn!
Part of it for me is that I’m from (and still live in) a town of 352 people. There is zero anonymity, and mostly I love that. But sometimes you wanna go where [no]body knows your name.... 🎶
Plus, I really value privacy as a right. I don’t feel like our tech and data laws have kept pace with our cultural development in that regard. Makes me jumpy.
I happened to discuss some thoughts on this with the man himself this afternoon ;) which mainly came out of my confession that I felt some kinda way about Lilit being shared publicly-- I always have certain projects and artists that I hold dear and precious and feel protective of, and had just been talking with another friend about Lilit texts and how I was careful not to tell too many people about them ( obviously @Sean McMullin would make the cut ;) ).
What you're saying about recognition certainly resonates (I don't want to be famous either!!), but I also think there's something else going on. At least in the inclinations for the idiosyncratic that Sean and I certainly share: which is that some things are worth protecting from wide recognition, not because they might be misread or bring out the tech-bros (shudder), but because wider recognition would change them.
When I think about the art projects and writers that I hold close, part of it is also about protecting the community and connections to that work-- the weird basement punk shows I went to in high school worked because only a weird basement number of people knew how to find them. Sort of like how us queers grumble about the batchelorette parties that lately have invaded gay bars-- sure, queer spaces were underground for safety, but that also meant they weren't overrun by straight people...which does change them. There's a thread here that connects to some of the ideas I was exploring in Queer Failure, perhaps.
I think what I'm getting at is that there's something about framing or looking at the world from a perspective of sharing online, or recognition/visibility that for me can distort perspective-- which can make choices that are aesthetic seem like choices around visibility or recognition. and I don't want to lose sight of the fact that there are other ways to connect and share and be in relationship beyond being known or public or through vectors that point towards marketing and commodification. I know for myself sometimes my choices are as much about resisting commodification of ideas, art, practices, as much as about my complicated relationship visibility.
Gonna keep thinking on this more :) Appreciate the provocations <3
So of course I had to. I dialed. And I heard Sean do a simple, beautiful reading of Mary Oliver’s “Morning Glories.” It was moving—much more than I expected—because it’s so personal, so intimate, from a perfect stranger. I was touched. I felt connected. Tara, your reflections on how and why this happens are probing and profound. Especially appreciate your thoughts on anonymity and privilege—putting them in a larger social & philosophical context. Am loving each of you rn!
YAY!
It thrills me to hear that you listened in and got something out of it!!
Oh, Priscilla! I so appreciate this response—and that you dialed the number!
Not only that, Tara, I saved it.
I love this discussion around the balance of anonymity and community and control. (Says the woman who doesn't list her last name in her profile.)
Thank you!
Yeah, it took me a long time to feel comfortable (mostly) with having my full name on any profiles. Even worse, a picture of my self!
Haha! I get that. (Clearly.)
Part of it for me is that I’m from (and still live in) a town of 352 people. There is zero anonymity, and mostly I love that. But sometimes you wanna go where [no]body knows your name.... 🎶
Plus, I really value privacy as a right. I don’t feel like our tech and data laws have kept pace with our cultural development in that regard. Makes me jumpy.
I happened to discuss some thoughts on this with the man himself this afternoon ;) which mainly came out of my confession that I felt some kinda way about Lilit being shared publicly-- I always have certain projects and artists that I hold dear and precious and feel protective of, and had just been talking with another friend about Lilit texts and how I was careful not to tell too many people about them ( obviously @Sean McMullin would make the cut ;) ).
What you're saying about recognition certainly resonates (I don't want to be famous either!!), but I also think there's something else going on. At least in the inclinations for the idiosyncratic that Sean and I certainly share: which is that some things are worth protecting from wide recognition, not because they might be misread or bring out the tech-bros (shudder), but because wider recognition would change them.
When I think about the art projects and writers that I hold close, part of it is also about protecting the community and connections to that work-- the weird basement punk shows I went to in high school worked because only a weird basement number of people knew how to find them. Sort of like how us queers grumble about the batchelorette parties that lately have invaded gay bars-- sure, queer spaces were underground for safety, but that also meant they weren't overrun by straight people...which does change them. There's a thread here that connects to some of the ideas I was exploring in Queer Failure, perhaps.
I think what I'm getting at is that there's something about framing or looking at the world from a perspective of sharing online, or recognition/visibility that for me can distort perspective-- which can make choices that are aesthetic seem like choices around visibility or recognition. and I don't want to lose sight of the fact that there are other ways to connect and share and be in relationship beyond being known or public or through vectors that point towards marketing and commodification. I know for myself sometimes my choices are as much about resisting commodification of ideas, art, practices, as much as about my complicated relationship visibility.
Gonna keep thinking on this more :) Appreciate the provocations <3
I think what Elise wrote here is another bit of what I'm writing my way through:
https://open.substack.com/pub/grouphug/p/what-if-its-not-a-small-business?r=1xziu&selection=5f93f8b0-6863-40f7-aa25-26dcbb1eeb4a&utm_campaign=post-share-selection&utm_medium=web