On being young, brilliant, and radical

everythingisproblematic:

I recently heard a Professor say, “You can only be a Marxist in college, so enjoy it while you can!” I don’t know if she meant that college is the only time it is socially acceptable to be a Marxist, that in the ‘real world’ Marxism is impractical, or some combination of the two. In any case, the implication remains the same— only the young can be radical. I would like to say that this is untrue, that anyone can be radical, that radicalism is timeless, but I can come up with no real evidence to support that idea. Anyone can think and believe radical things, but it appears that when it comes to doing, radicalism is reserved for the youth. What then does it mean to be young and radical?

Read More - On being young, brilliant, and radical « Everything is Problematic

The Problem with Being a Semi-Nostalgic Adult (Child)

everythingisproblematic:

Sometimes, I suffer from a terrible case of nostalgia. It creeps up on me in the middle of a class discussion on Sedgwick’s homosocial triangle. It lurks in the back of my mind as I gaze in awe at the baile folklórico performed by the La Raza Latina club. It haunts my dreams as I restlessly try to forget the hours that I spent on Tumblr rather than on homework. Tumblr is a mastermind of a website that consists of twenty-somethings who all seem to relate to each other through images and phrases, while maintaining a certain kind of distance. In my case, I can vent without the fear of judgment, I’m able to express my sadness without being prodded for an explanation, and I can reminisce on the awesomeness that was the 90’s. What Tumblr allows me most to do is to escape the stress and disillusions of the present.

Read More - The Problem with Being a Semi-Nostalgic Adult (Child) « Everything is Problematic

It's the launch of EVERYTHING IS PROBLEMATIC. Check it out! →

(via theliterategirl-deactivated2012)

The Write Stuff | So Many Places to Call Home →

In two weeks I’ll have the opportunity to read some of my writing in a showcase, along with two other undergrads and 5 or 6 graduate students. I am totally thrilled– MY WRITING WILL HAVE AN AUDIENCE. And what’s more authorial than doing a reading? Plus, being in undergrad in a showcase consisting mostly of grad students is really terrific.

Which brings me to the crux of this post– what the hell am I going to read? I have plenty of writing, so options isn’t a problem, but how do I pick? [read more]

(New!!) About | So Many Places to Call Home →

Chelsee Bergen is a student of life. Also, a student of writing― more specifically screenwriting, and short fiction. She’s also a fan of the memoir, and has picked a tentative title for her own.

She is a second year at the University of Nevada, Reno, and a former Hampshire College HAMPster (read: hipster). She believed New England was a magical place where all her problems could be solved. As it turns out, she does not like New England; she hates the snow and likes to be the most pretentious person in the room. She still believes that New York City― not Disney Land― is the Happiest Place on Earth. It may also be the most miserable, but she can accept this because life is about balance.

Terrible opening paragraphs for never to be written science fiction novels →

Drabble a Day for a Week: Each day for a week I did an exercise to create the most awful opening line for a speculative fiction novel. Here they are with added typos and homonyms.

1.      Last Conflict

The Gogleerth came thundering over the hill, rattling their highly polish swords on their pearlescent amour; the moaning sun lingered glintingly on a thousand tones of amassed steel designed to stroke trembling fear into the hearts of the enema.On the hill top the invading army shone like a disturbed ants nest only lager with more legs and more highlyer fettled blades.D’Fut picked at the flea that has just settled down to brunch in his chest hair and he bited into it enjoying the pop and subsequent crunch and tasting his ownly blood irony.“Death to all Horothrinchians and their immediate family.” Screamed D’Fut as he urged his great warhearse to chunter.

These are hilarious- everyone should read them. 

I’m not sure if what I just wrote will ever see the light of day but

I needed someone to at least see this one bit

 Condoms and contraceptives are used to promote an unhealthy, promiscuous, sex life.

Actually, condoms are used to promote a healthy sex life. Hence the term SAFE SEX. As for promiscuity, you can have whatever views you want on it, but saying that it’s because of contraceptives is like saying that people are overweight because of the existence of brownies. There might be a correlation, BUT THE BROWNIES ARE NOT MAKING YOU EAT THEM, and there are a lot of other (delicious) ways to get fat. 

This is my dream | So Many Places to Call Home →

“I’m in a conference room. On the wall behind me is a large cork-board– it’s massive. On the right wall there are glossy windows (horizontal and rectangular)– they let in light, but you can’t really see out of them (because I love light but am easily distracted by the outside world). To my left there is a large easel notepad. On the left wall is a long white board.” 

Pronoun(cement) | So Many Places to Call Home →

I have a new resolution.

When I introduce myself, I’m going to say my preferred pronouns.

“I’m Chelsee. I use she/her pronouns.” (prefer?)

Maybe I can find a really awesome way to say it. I’ll think on it and let you know.

Perhaps at this point you’re asking yourself why I have made this resolution. Well, here’s the thing- I may use the pronouns which typically correspond to my assigned gender (with which I identify), but not everybody does. My experience of the general public (of which I am definitely a part) is that we either assume people identify with their assigned gender, or that their preferred pronouns/gender identity corresponds to their appearance in some way– which is a limiting and marginalizing assumption.

"I’ve reached a kind of cross-roads, where I can feel my self moving beyond and being ready to let go of all these things I’ve made up about myself and the world and how things are supposed to be, while at the same time I am still in the midst of them and how much they define who I am and how I function."

Average Jane | So Many Places to Call Home