I've been putting this off for a while, but it's time to bring this idea into the world. If you're reading this, you might be wondering what a heterotopia is. I'll explain that and introduce this concept further in a moment.
But first, I have some questions for you:
Have you ever felt like you don't belong to the world you were born into?
Do you ever feel a disconnect between the expectations of your environment and how you feel inside?
If you answered yes to either of these questions, welcome! You're not alone. If you answered no, that's great too.
I always felt like I was from another planet. I had so much fun in the dream worlds I’d create, but when it came to surviving and thriving in this one, I felt like I had missed the instruction manual.
What I failed to realize but am beginning to understand is that we are dynamic beings in a dynamic world. Everything we see is constantly changing, including us. We will never experience the same person, place, or thing the same way twice. We change depending on our headspace, mood, hormones, the weather, the people around us, and the environments we’re in.
So feeling a disconnect between yourself and your environment is normal. Especially when you are trying to fit yourself and your uniqueness and ever-changing self into a fixed interpretation of the world crafted by another person’s mind.
The world seems so real when it’s right in front of us to see, hear, and touch. But every now and then, something comes across and shakes up everything we know to be true.
A few months I came across this billboard while driving.
I had no idea what it meant, but it sounded subversive, so I took a picture and googled it when I got home. It took me down a rabbit hole that ended up shifting my perspective on pretty much everything.
I realized that there are other ways of viewing the world and that maybe the way I had been taught to view it wasn't the only way. This realization sparked my interest in heterotopias - spaces that exist outside the norm, and challenge our understanding of what is "normal" and "real". I want to explore these spaces and share my findings with others who may also feel like they don't quite fit into the world as it is currently constructed.
In my research, I discovered that heterotopias can take many forms - physical spaces like museums, cemeteries, and prisons, as well as virtual spaces like social media and gaming communities. These spaces offer a unique perspective on the world and can provide a sense of belonging to those who feel like they don't fit into mainstream society.
Through this project, I hope to create a community of like-minded individuals who are interested in exploring heterotopias and challenging traditional ways of thinking. I believe that by doing so we can create a more inclusive and diverse world where everyone can be valued for who they are.
If you're interested in learning more about heterotopias and joining this community, subscribe and stay tuned for updates on my journey!