I Want to Retrain My Mind to the World of 1996


(Except I Will Not Be Replacing My Phone With a Landline Because I Still Want to Use A Bus App So I Don’t Have to Wait Outside an Extra 5-20 Minutes in Sub-Zero Weather… Though I Considered It.)

So it’s imperative I quit facebook in 2020.  I do not need to defend my extremely valid decision. But if you are f l a b b e r g a s t e d as to why this extroverted small business owner would ever leave the network that everyone is a part of (well, except Dad and a few anti-social paranoiac types), well, here ya go…

 

1.        I’ll stop embellishing my ego for an online audience and start thinking more deeply.

 

Me in 1996. I was prolific AF.

Me in 1996. I was prolific AF.

My greatest bliss is to think up something and then witness someone else interacting with my finished project.  I’ve always relished how in facebook I can see in real time people liking my thoughts!  But I tend to post on facebook when I should be turning to my sketchbook or typewriter. My status updates are not finished thoughts, they are fleeting notions I haven’t even totally digested yet.  Likes and comments on my statuses give me the gratification of being seen as a persona, but the reward isn’t deserved.  Despite the praises I am not a Great Philosopher-Writer and (I know this is controversial) facebook is ultimately not art. 

 

Here is another flaw of my human nature: any sort of comment left below my status immediately makes me feel like I have to commit to the veracity of my original notion.  I defend it when challenged, even when the challenge is just a question or a gentle alternate perspective not meant as threat.  By doing so I have thrown away the critical opportunity to contradict myself!  It even says in the the little self description box on my personal facebook, “This artist, contrarian, revealist, was born on the moon then came to earth via a spoon.”  It is contrary to the concept of contrarianism if I cannot contradict myself. And it’s not just me, I believe we are all shape shifters who cannot truly be pinned down if we are doing the work of chewing ideas. Facebook is designed for swallowing ideas that have not been chewed and it gives me both physical and metaphysical malabsorption. 

 

Maturity (of both a personal and creative nature) requires long sessions of staring at the world whilst chewing on an idea. On facebook, this chewing on a forming idea is constantly interrupted by my ego’s desire to be seen as a celebrity.  Status updates seem like monumental opinions to an audience rather than a casual conversation between real peers. Once, I had a year long writing residency at a historic hotel that many wealthy and famous people stay at.  My job was to observe all that went on there and interview guests.  After a few months I noticed how the V.I.P. guests always seemed haunted and lonely. Facebook is designed to turn anyone who posts on it into someone of note. But for both facebook manufactured and non-facebook cases of fame clicking on heart reactions cannot remotely compare to the unique eye crinklings of a smiling person. 

 

 

2.        It is an addiction, but not a very good one. 

 

I can think of a few hundred musicians who were addicted to heavily deleterious drugs, drugs that destroyed these musicians and often took their lives, but still these musicians managed to make a ton of songs that I hum on the regular.  Somehow they got more done using those drugs than I do as a long-term user of banal old facebook.  Maybe those people were just geniuses and I am not, but how could I ever even know for sure if I have spent my entire adult life wasting undisciplined hours on facebook pretty much every day?

 

I check facebook between 2-50 times daily depending on how busy I am.  And as long as I have an account I am going to feel compelled dip in like a pack of oreos. There is no getting around it for me. I’ve tried the “I only check facebook at this highly specific time” thing and found again and again that I succumb to checking even when I promised I wouldn’t.  

 

What if I just didn’t have one to check?  I know I stopped it with the oreos (and bread and about 1/3 of the food supply) when the doctor told me gluten would take my life if I kept eating it.  I know I can do this if it’s cold turkey. 

 

3.        People like me… I think?

 

Maybe? I have been asking “Do you like me?” in overt and covert ways on a constant basis ever since I first joined facebook September of 2005. Yet, as I approach 15 years of use I feel less and less confident each time I post a status update.  

 

Will anyone understand me?

 

The immediate answer is always some do, some don’t quite, and then you’ll want to delete the post altogether. Meanwhile, the healthier answer is it doesn’t matter as long as you appreciate your confusingly contrarian self for who you are just as much as Mr. Rodgers does.  

 

Each update I share about my life on facebook feels like it has to be more vulnerable than the last so I can get the maximum amount of likes. Meanwhile, I accept more and more strangers into my pool of friends because I do have a business and these are all potential “contacts.”  But now people with whom I might want to do business seem to know details pertaining to my menstrual cycle, restrictive diet frustrations and fervent anti-car sentiments. And they might not know what I can do for them as a creative professional because I have been too busy railing against the glitter industry just so I can collect likes from my folx who are woke to the daily fascism Lake Michigan fish face from microplastics.  TBR those hip posts have nothing to do with changing stuff.  Maybe without facebook I’d take some time to write Hallmark and ask them to cut it out with all the pretty iridescent flecks.  And even with a universal monthly income, things like my fervent anti-car sentiments would still just get in the way of someone thinking “I want this person to type poems at my suburban birthday party.”

 

4.        I’ll make more of an effort to be there. 

 

I’m one of those supportive types who always hits “going” but only shows up every couple years as long as the event is only shared on facebook.  The thing is I am completely earnest when choosing “going” on an event but then I always get distracted by a new notification and forget to write it in my paper 1996esque calendar. Meanwhile in slightly less distracting e-mail land if there is something I hear about that interests me I take a pen and write down the time and address under the corresponding date. 

 

The hardest part of leaving won’t be events but missing out on people’s photos and updates.  So there are just going to be more phone calls and visits in my future.

 

5.        Cutting down the amount of times I cringe each day.

 

Reasons to cringe: 

·            News headlines like “Drinking Red Wine Prevents the Common Cold” or “People With Sisters Are Better People. 

·            All the photographs of people’s bleeding knees, busted lips and fresh tattoos.

·            All the photographs of people’s multi-layered diamond encrusted status seeking engagement rings.

·            The authentic concern I get whenever I am trying to be humorous. Example: I shared an article about how public transit in Kansas City is now free and wrote the statement “THAT’S IT.  I’M MOVING BACK THERE TOMORROW!” Then I ran into a facebook friend at an event a couple weeks later who seemed confused that I was still in town. 

·            It is near impossible to share a different perspective on someone else’s post without making it sound like you are angry and ready to argue.

·            Every time I post a status someone is bound to interpret it as a cry for help and then deliver some painfully obvious, unsolicited advice.

·            The ads that seem to increase in quantity each year.

·            The ads that use your phone’s microphone to directly mirror your private conversations.

·            What am I revealing and to who?

 

 

6.        This “professional” hasn’t updated her website in two years.

 

Because of laziness I just announce things on my facebook fan page most of the time, but how often do I hear “If only you had emailed me” after no one shows up to support me at these events?  Often.  If I am a lazy person then I would at least rather have the info I need in the world shared in a more accessible way of websites, newspapers or my mailing list than on the blur of facebook.

 

E-mail is more respectful-professional than facebook messenger.  Messenger is designed to harass you about work stuff at all hours.  It dings.  It pops up on the phone as an icon you have to swipe away at the risk of forgetting to reply if you get rid of it.  Group Messenger is the inane reply all from hell featuring twenty or more humans intermittently thumbs upping me into a state of total berzerkment. Email is easier to unplug and ignore in my world, but I take a human way more seriously when they send me an inquiry over email that I may check at my convenience rather than theirs. 

 

7.        Um, why are we even on facebook after 2016?!

 

Our elections are at stake again and yet we keep checking and sharing.

 

8.        If I leave…

 

A few people have told me I am the best thing in their feed.  Maybe if a few more interesting people left there would be less incentive to be there.  In fact, I have been thinking of leaving ever since Sue Lawton left a few months back! And Blasted Ellipsis hasn’t been on in a couple years and she truly is the most social of the wild butterflies I know.  Let’s all migrate!

 

9.        I will have more time and be more intentional with my life choices. 

 

Instead of facebook I am choosing to have a deeper connection to my creative practice as well as real-world interactions with human beings. These deeper fulfillments will give depth to my thoughts and capacity for delight.  And to stay in the loop I have access to NPR, PBS, the interwebs and the New Yorker.  All will be well with receiving new information.

 

Or at least until the arrival of Y2K in another 4 years.

Also me in 1996 exploring the power of paper bags rather than facebook.

Also me in 1996 exploring the power of paper bags rather than facebook.

 

 

 

 



 

The Advice Tent

In preparation for the largest performance I've ever put together (yet) I got this haircut:

photo: Sara Risley

photo: Sara Risley

photo:Dominic Inouye

photo:Dominic Inouye

On August 27th and 28th over a period of two 10-hour long sessions 423 individual questions were posed to the 26 experts waiting inside “The Advice Tent."  Some questions posed to the experts included serious questions such as, “Am I on the right path?” or “How can we be more merciful to the environment?” to vague: “What’s next?” and the ridiculous: “Should I purchase an inflatable unicorn horn for the cats?” Scroll all the way to the bottom of this post to see pictures of the advice given for that last question.

photo: Bill Sieger

photo: Bill Sieger

photo: Martin Hallanger

photo: Martin Hallanger

photo: Bill Sieger

photo: Bill Sieger

Participants seeking advice had to observe the rules of The Advice Tent:

  • Because everything is anonymous to protect your privacy, you will be assigned a number.
  • Select one problem and write it in a clear manner on the cover of your issued passport.
  • Go around to whomever you want in the tent and show them your written problem, but verbal talking between advisor and seeker is incredibly forbidden. 
photo: Bill Sieger

photo: Bill Sieger

Volunteers at the entrance would help participants select one question to receive advice on.  The question would then be written down on the cover of each participants issued "advice passport" so they could show their question to each advisor w…

Volunteers at the entrance would help participants select one question to receive advice on.  The question would then be written down on the cover of each participants issued "advice passport" so they could show their question to each advisor without breaking the "no talking in the tent" rule.

photo:Bill Sieger

photo:Bill Sieger

The Advice Tent offered:

Dictionary Advice by Anja (me)

photo: Anna F. Brown

photo: Anna F. Brown

Advice seekers would choose a random word in the dictionary that I would then have to describe and defend as the literal answer to their inquiry.

Advice seekers would choose a random word in the dictionary that I would then have to describe and defend as the literal answer to their inquiry.

Metaphorical Advice by Freesia McKee

While participants waited for their metaphorical advice they could mess with Freesia's Etch-a-Sketch.

While participants waited for their metaphorical advice they could mess with Freesia's Etch-a-Sketch.

photo: Bethany Price

photo: Bethany Price

Yoga Therapy Advice by Heidi Parkes

Certified Yoga Therapy Practitioner Heidi Parkes would tell you how to use ghee to fix your situation.  photo: Dominic Inouye

Certified Yoga Therapy Practitioner Heidi Parkes would tell you how to use ghee to fix your situation.  photo: Dominic Inouye

Fashion/Alien/Voyeuristic Advice by Blasted Ellipses

Blasted Ellipses would give you fashion advice from the perspective of a space alien with a penchant for being voyeuristic.  

Blasted Ellipses would give you fashion advice from the perspective of a space alien with a penchant for being voyeuristic.  

Slap of Reality Advice by Reality Slapstein 

All participants would receive a written slap of reality as well as a very real hand slap.

All participants would receive a written slap of reality as well as a very real hand slap.

Contradictory Advice by Contra/Diction

Contra and Diction would converse behind their curtain, but never actually agree as to what you should do.  Photo: Stephanie Weidenhoeft

Contra and Diction would converse behind their curtain, but never actually agree as to what you should do.  Photo: Stephanie Weidenhoeft

photo: Martin Hallanger

photo: Martin Hallanger

Sporty Advice by Jock Strap 

In between sentences he would lift weights or do push-ups.  Photo: Martin Hallanger

In between sentences he would lift weights or do push-ups.  Photo: Martin Hallanger

Colored Advice by Dasha Kelly, "D'Comma Sense"

She burned incense and prescribed you a color.  photo: Tiffany Miller

She burned incense and prescribed you a color.  photo: Tiffany Miller

 

Sunny Side Up Healthy Ass Life Advice by Ms. Bloom

Healthy Ass Life Coach Tiffany Miller would write sunny side up advice on yellow paper.

Healthy Ass Life Coach Tiffany Miller would write sunny side up advice on yellow paper.

Nihilistic Advice by Nadia

She consistently made her point that there is no point.  photo: Stephanie Wiedenhoeft

She consistently made her point that there is no point.  photo: Stephanie Wiedenhoeft

Ethical Advice by the Honorable Fuega, Nature Witch: 

Culinary Advice by Monique Gastrique

Monique Gastrique wrote many recipes for success both days.  Photo: Jessica Zalewski

Monique Gastrique wrote many recipes for success both days.  Photo: Jessica Zalewski

Klutz to Klutz Advice by Marty Cabinet

Pictured on the far left is Reality Slapstein and on the far right, with coffee spilled all over her shirt, our klutz master, Marty Cabinet.

Pictured on the far left is Reality Slapstein and on the far right, with coffee spilled all over her shirt, our klutz master, Marty Cabinet.

 

Subliminal Advice by Notanja 

The subliminal advice would be written while blindfolded.  photo: Susan Wozny

The subliminal advice would be written while blindfolded.  photo: Susan Wozny

Twice/Thrice Advice by Freesia McKee

This advice would be reiterated two to three times. photo: Alan Thompson-Wallace

This advice would be reiterated two to three times. photo: Alan Thompson-Wallace

Mending Advice by Heidi Parkes

photo: Martin Hallanger

photo: Martin Hallanger

Mending advice included an actual string stitched into the typewritten response.  Photo: Susan Wozny

Mending advice included an actual string stitched into the typewritten response.  Photo: Susan Wozny

photo: Susan Wozny

photo: Susan Wozny

Taoist Advice by ViVi

Each person would choose something from the book of I Ching that informed the response.

Each person would choose something from the book of I Ching that informed the response.

photo: Martin Hallanger

photo: Martin Hallanger

English Teacher Advice by Red Pen

He brought a mug, a coffee maker and a red pen to make corrections. photo: Martin Hallanger

He brought a mug, a coffee maker and a red pen to make corrections. photo: Martin Hallanger

photo: Dominic Inouye

photo: Dominic Inouye

Hard Boiled Advice by Marty Cabinet

There is no way to explain what she was doing other than to show you a sample of what she typed in response to the question "How can we be more merciful to the environment?"

There is no way to explain what she was doing other than to show you a sample of what she typed in response to the question "How can we be more merciful to the environment?"

Life: Welcome To Reality Advice by CC

There is no recording of what CC told people, you just had to be there. 

There is no recording of what CC told people, you just had to be there. 

photo: Martin Hallanger

photo: Martin Hallanger

Unrealistic Advice by Madame Peacock

photos: Martin Hallanger

photos: Martin Hallanger

photo: Thea Kovac

photo: Thea Kovac

Musical Advice by Indigo Jade Kästel

Advice you could sing.

Advice you could sing.

Fiery Advice by Audrey Thompson-Wallace

Advice you could burn.

Advice you could burn.

Botanical Advice by Root the Plant Whisperer

Advice you could grow.  Photo: Bill Sieger

Advice you could grow.  Photo: Bill Sieger

photo: Martin Hallanger

photo: Martin Hallanger

Here are some answers to "Should I buy an inflatable unicorn horn for the cats?"

The Nihilistic response

The Nihilistic response

The Unrealistic response.

The Unrealistic response.

The Twice/Thrice response.

The Twice/Thrice response.

The Subliminal response. (Need a clue? Follow the capital letters.)

The Subliminal response. (Need a clue? Follow the capital letters.)

Fiery advice written of course by the wife of this particular advice seeker.

Fiery advice written of course by the wife of this particular advice seeker.

My personal favorite interpretation, the Mending advice response.

My personal favorite interpretation, the Mending advice response.

An exhibition and live reading talk back of the advice sought and offered at The Advice Tent will be coming soon.

Feel free to email us any pictures of the advice tent you have taken to notanja@gmail.com.  

Thank you to our volunteers and donors: Ariana Vaeth, JoAnn Chang, Amber Bush, Sachin Deshpande, Jessica Zalewski, Marika Holbus, Christina Ward, Barbara Aho, Howard Leu, Jeanne DeSimone, Bill Sieger, Adam McKee, WC Tank, Pat Walsh, Dominic Inouye, Freesia McKee, Paragon Printing, Milwaukee Fringe Festival

Your Dance Move Is A Poem I Can Write Right Now

Recently the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee asked me to come to their student union, set up my typewriter and type up poems for their students in honor of National Poetry Month.  Additionally they asked if I could type a poem in response to each participant's dance move.  When I asked what the music was going to be they said that there was no music to be played, just people dancing for me.  So I brought along a crank style music toy that plays one song, "Greensleeves," and each time a student came up to me I cranked for them the ancient, morose tune.  After they danced for me I'd write them their poem.

We Found The Essences!

Last Saturday, undrea becker, a fellow typewriter poet from Decorah, Iowa came into town and we met for the very first time.  As part of her visit we set up our typewriters at the Walker's Point Center For the Arts (WPCA) and composed spontaneous essences for anyone who came up to us and held a branch of bittersweet, a plant that undrea brought with her from Iowa. Over a period of 3 hours, 62 people (including a couple who wanted their essence as one person) got their essences read by us.  124 essences were transcribed on March, 12th, 2016!    The event included a poetry installation of the essences of inanimate objects in WPCA from the art, to the electrical outlets and vents, bathroom fixtures and hallway.  There was a table with cut up words and a spare typewriter so people could compose their own poems.  And the thing that really brought everything together was the six piece band of musicians who had never played together, but improvised for the entire duration of the evening.  The band, Spectron and the Nebulous Ones consisted of Anton "Spectron" Sieger, Erik Schoster/ He Can Jog, Micheal Bettine of Gongtopia, Jess Lemont of Be A Waterwolf, Jade Kästel and Dennis Tomashek.

undrea becker of Insta-poems and Anja Notanja of La Prosette.      Photo: Howard Leu

undrea becker of Insta-poems and Anja Notanja of La Prosette.      Photo: Howard Leu

Photo: Howard Leu

Photo: Howard Leu

Something undrea wrote for the hallway.

Something undrea wrote for the hallway.

Photo: Elmer Golon, Design 709

Photo: Elmer Golon, Design 709

A bathroom mirror essence.  Photo: Sara Risley

A bathroom mirror essence.  Photo: Sara Risley

Toilet paper dispenser essence.  Photo: Heidi Parkes

Toilet paper dispenser essence.  Photo: Heidi Parkes

Here are some of the essences...  The succinct ones are by undrea, the longer ones are mine.

A slideshow of my poster illustrations for the event.  I still have posters left so if you want one, email me notanja@gmail.com.    Thank you to everyone for sharing your essences with us!

Here is some of the sound from the event:

Two Typewriter Poets Describe Your Essence

Free public event, one night only!

When: Saturday, March 12th, 6-9pm

Where:  Walkers Point Center for the Arts, 839 S. 5th Street, Milwaukee

Stand before a duo of writers and receive two typewritten interpretations of your physical presence as well as a musical one by Spectron and his Nebulous Band: Spectron Sieger on bass, Jess Lemont on drums, Michael Bettine on gongs, He Can Jig on pippi, Jade Kastel on accordion, Dennis on saxophone and Casey on guitar!  Walk through a comedic literary installation that spreads out from the windows to the hallway to the bathroom. Create your own poem collages out of a pile of pre-typed words on colorful paper! Check out WPCA's current exhibition In//Out. 
 

Decorah Iowa's undrea becker of Insta-poems.

Decorah Iowa's undrea becker of Insta-poems.


Decorah Iowa's undrea becker, founder of Insta-Poems and Milwaukee's own Anja Notanja Sieger & La Prosette both happen to be typewriter poets who compose instant literature for strangers at art fairs and farmer's markets. The two women recently met each other on Twitter and decided they ought to meet in the real and see what happens if they type for people side by side.