Okay, People-
I guess I’m okay. How are you?
My brain has been a bit overactive lately which isn’t always a great thing. I’ve had a lot of time to think and integrate what is coming at me and try not to read too much into it.
I’ve begun reading a new book by Naomi Klein called Doppelganger: A Trip into the Mirror World. It’s about her personal experience of being melded with someone else (Naomi Wolf) in the public discourse primarily through social media platforms. The book deals with the struggles of self both public and private, in a world with personal brands, AI, social media and the impact that has on politics, culture, progress and autonomy. I just started it but it's working my brain. It won’t be out until September.
I deal with the idea of the ‘double’ all the time. There are always fake accounts on IG claiming to be me popping up and trying to grift my fans. There’s who I am on the podcast, in standup, on film, in life. There’s what other people think of me and what they think I am. There’s my own sense of self and memory. There’s AI which I have, up to this point, avoided. I’m sure it will become unavoidable at some point. There is also the desire to get out and save myself. To turn it all off and stop engaging at all to see what I am left with and try to be at peace.
Is that bailing?
I’ve always been on a conscious journey to self-actualize and be in the world with myself and have a place in the world and live with who I am and create from that place. To be grounded. Every day feels like there’s an assault on that foundation. At least in my head.
Life would have been easier if someone had enabled my self-esteem as a child but that ship has sailed.
After reading a bit of the book I realize it may not all be in my head. I never saw myself as a brand or saw what I do as content but that’s how it sits in the hyperreality that we’ve all grown to accept as most of reality. That hyperreality dictates a large portion of who public people are and it can get away from you. I limit my engagement with it.
On today’s podcast I talk to Sir Ben Kingsley. On Thursday I bring back Tom Dreesen to tell me some of the old mob stories he has from his days opening for Sinatra. He was telling them to me in the parking lot of The Comedy Store and I thought they were great.
Enjoy!
Boomer, Monkey and LaFonda live!
Love,
Maron
Not All in My Head.
