I wonder how much of this sense of the authentic self as an individual versus collective understanding is correlated with consumerism in the digital age. So much of what we're sold is about "being more ME ME ME" (what does your toothbrush say about who you are? what about your Netflix algorithm? how about fermented cheese?) when to your point about psychedelics, a deeper sense of self often accompanies a "self-less" experience (flow states)
Your points and questions could lead to an entire essay series. I'm sure we could go beyond correlation and discuss the causes consumerism in the digital age has on spreading an individualistic view of self. Instead of viewing humans as an interconnected species containing multitudes, we label ourselves brands and consumers. What is your brand? Your brand is you who are. Your brand needs to be specific to the market. Your brand can't stray from the message. Individualism can be something powerful and a way to express ourselves freely, but when consumerism latches onto it, what we think are expressions of self are merely categories plugged into an algorithm.
Oh I like this idea of a short essay exchange re: individualism in the digitized consumer age. Especially given your Substack's focus on the idea of The Other and the foreign, it'd be curious to parse through how folks develop their own sense of self when they explicitly reject the idea that it can be cultivated where they're from. Let's have a think. slopezba@gmail.com . Because if Substack ain't about discussing complex subjects outside of the vacuum of our own minds, what are we here for?
Oh I’m keen to listen to this!
I wonder how much of this sense of the authentic self as an individual versus collective understanding is correlated with consumerism in the digital age. So much of what we're sold is about "being more ME ME ME" (what does your toothbrush say about who you are? what about your Netflix algorithm? how about fermented cheese?) when to your point about psychedelics, a deeper sense of self often accompanies a "self-less" experience (flow states)
Your points and questions could lead to an entire essay series. I'm sure we could go beyond correlation and discuss the causes consumerism in the digital age has on spreading an individualistic view of self. Instead of viewing humans as an interconnected species containing multitudes, we label ourselves brands and consumers. What is your brand? Your brand is you who are. Your brand needs to be specific to the market. Your brand can't stray from the message. Individualism can be something powerful and a way to express ourselves freely, but when consumerism latches onto it, what we think are expressions of self are merely categories plugged into an algorithm.
Oh I like this idea of a short essay exchange re: individualism in the digitized consumer age. Especially given your Substack's focus on the idea of The Other and the foreign, it'd be curious to parse through how folks develop their own sense of self when they explicitly reject the idea that it can be cultivated where they're from. Let's have a think. slopezba@gmail.com . Because if Substack ain't about discussing complex subjects outside of the vacuum of our own minds, what are we here for?
I will email you today!