Thus begins the selfie project
In which I may or may not appear naked
A while back I noticed that I did not have a single selfie in my phone’s camera roll: https://protesilaos.com/commentary/2025-05-16-not-one-selfie/. In fact, there is no human element in the countless photos I have taken. All one finds there is snapshots of my dogs and the surrounding environment. Perhaps I have hitherto only identified beauty in the animals and landscapes. It may be because it is easier for me to discern the universal in the particulars of their presence. With people I tend to think more in terms of the given arrangement, the place and the interpersonal dynamics at play.
I plan to change this. I want to appreciate myself and others in a different way. This can only start from within. There are no selfies because, fundamentally, I do not like something about them. “What” exactly I cannot tell. It does not matter, anyway. I shall condition myself to pay attention to what the camera is telling me. This is the time of acceptance; of committing to a course of action that cannot be undone. Hence the publicity of it: to have an external accountability structure, to empower others to call me out in the scenario where I renege on my promise.
Behold me outside my hut (click to enlarge):
The plan is to take a selfie each day and put it online. From today
until the end of 2025. I do not know yet if I can host a lot of high
resolution pictures on my website—I must review the terms of my
service provider… If I cannot keep them directly on
protesilaos.com, then I shall create some social media account for
this purpose (I am unaware of the options as of now). I admit that I
am not enthusiastic about social media, but it is a sacrifice I am
willing to make for the greater good of appreciating people in this
new light.
And, in case it is not obvious, I might draw inspiration from the Greek gods—my gods—when thinking about the next theme of the selfie.
peacock-mode enabled!