so, we started a philosophy club

making critical thinking sexy to soothe existential dread

last year i hosted my first philosophy salon & art exhibit here in los angeles, in collaboration with women i deeply admire: Lenéa Sims, Sophia Williams, Troi Alexis and Tina of Moon Made Farms.

READ THE ROOM was born from my incessant yearning to explore ideas. to experience art IRL. to cultivate an intuitive connection to our role in the revolution. to get in my mf’n philosopher bag and make critical thinking sexy (again?)

we are in a historically potent time. i felt this deeply when i started RTR, i still feel it now. from the global awakening to free palestine, to institutions crumbling all around us, to AI slop furthering the dead internet theory. RTR was a portal to feel alive– a space decorated with questions, designed with intention, and filled with a collective desire for change.

so why am i sitting here writing about it, one year later? there’s no good reason that doesn’t end up sounding like an excuse. the truth is, the pace of life is faster than my ability to process, philosophize, & share in a way that feels meaningful. and perhaps that’s all by design. after touching computer all day for money, i simply want to throw my screens out the window. but if survival in this capitalist system is designed for burnout & dissociation, then spiritually, i’m obligated to protest this.

i know i do myself and my community a disservice when i don’t create consistently. i know that showing up imperfectly is better than not showing up at all. in the spirit of protest & remembering the reason i started RTR–returning to my writing practice feels like combatting our current culture of fast/mindless/convenient with slow/intentional/committed to the arts.

as the overthinking philosopher that i am, i didn’t know where to begin with the snowball of transformations that ensued after RTR vol 1. but i forget that sharing stories does not require the entire book. so here’s to getting that first page down 📖

if you’re interested in philosophy, counterculture, & talking shit as an art form, please subscribe & tell ya friends. excited to explore & share this medium with y’all.

xoxo,
existential shawty