Common Discourse is a project designed to help others (and ourselves) think through creativity, focus, and intentional work—from Alex Tan & Alice Otieno.

Every Tuesday we share words from a journal, a few ideas, a quote from somebody else, and links worth sharing. On Fridays we invite a guest to share images from their camera roll and a sound that resonates with them.

Maya Man is a Los Angeles based artist whose work considers the computer screen a space for intimacy and performance, focusing on the phenomenon of translating our offline selves into online content.

I first discovered Maya by observing her Making Sense of TikTok channel connections. I find her topics of research to be quite interesting as well as her output in the form of exhibitions both IRL and online.

Here are some things she sent us this week.

— Alex

Sights —

I'm sharing a collection of NEVER BEFORE SEEN SUMMER 2022 SELFIES that would have otherwise lived and died in my camera roll. I love these kinds of selfies, taken to remember a moment or feeling. They are usually for me and not for you, but for this special occasion I am now sharing with you too <3

— Maya

Sounds —

Can't help it if I space in a daze

My eyes tune out the other way

I may switch off and go in a daydream

In this head my thoughts are deep

But sometimes I can't even speak

Would someone be and not pretend?

I'm off again in my world

Thanks for consuming!

ABOUT

ℹ️ Read more about Common Discourse here.

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🗂 Here is every Common Discourse weekly briefing to date.

COMMUNITY

🐤 We have a Twitter feed where we populate things that resonate.

⭐ We use Are.na as a tool to archive specific aspects of this project.

🗣 This project is more fun when there is dialogue amongst those who are reading. Use the comment feature at the bottom of this article to start a conversation, we’ll use your ideas for future briefings and food for thought.