Living in the burn-out era is not easy. Millennials and gen Z-s either overwork themselves, are exploited or just can’t cope with the transition to adult life. Burn-out is a condition that appears as a reaction to long-term stress, primarily from overworking oneself at school or in the workplace. Symptoms of burnout include psychological orContinue reading “Taking a break”
Category Archives: Alexandra Barbu
Romanian Nostalgia pt. 3 – Memories, Amateur Mysticism and Fortune-telling or Why you should keep the occult in your life
Photo credits: Virginia Lupu, from the series “Tin Tin Tin,” 2018–19. When I was around 6, my grandma found out I was deathly afraid of the dark and struggling with nightmares, so she decided to take me to a healer she knew in her village. She woke me up the next morning and off weContinue reading “Romanian Nostalgia pt. 3 – Memories, Amateur Mysticism and Fortune-telling or Why you should keep the occult in your life”
Romanian Nostalgia – Lyrical Edition
My last article was a confession of the overwhelming nostalgia that I felt while being away from home for so long. I mentioned the strong feelings one gets when listening to old songs, which brought me to the idea of starting a series of Romanian Nostalgia cures, starting with my favorite way to self-soothe: translatingContinue reading “Romanian Nostalgia – Lyrical Edition”
On being away from home – Nostalgia and closeness through distance
What is nostalgia to you? There is always a moment during each party when the sun starts peeking out of the darkness and some heartbroken soul is putting on their favorite suffering song from they were in high school and their crush went to the movies with another girl. In a different corner, we listenContinue reading “On being away from home – Nostalgia and closeness through distance”
Making Self-Love Seem Cool
Self-love has been one of the most difficult journeys I’ve embarked on. It means something else to each of us; we all have different ways of showing ourselves love, just as we differ in terms of the ease with which we do it. While some people love themselves by default, others need some more timeContinue reading “Making Self-Love Seem Cool”
The Mise-en-Abîme as an Expression of Trauma
I urge you to take a moment and observe this image, explore its shadows and corners, and try to make sense of the pattern. How does it make you feel? If you got chills, you’re not alone. There’s always been something about mirroring and repetition that sparked my interest, and I’ve decided to explore theContinue reading “The Mise-en-Abîme as an Expression of Trauma”
Meet the Board: Eda and Alexandra
“New school year, new me,” I say as I close my newly-bought weekly planner. Cautiously but determinedly wading into the last year of my English BA, I am set on making it count. I have a new planner after all; I must be organized! Alex and I have been entrusted with the care of thisContinue reading “Meet the Board: Eda and Alexandra”
On Self-Loathing and Gregor’s Labyrinth
“They will love me for that which destroys methe sword in my dreams the dust of my thoughtsthe sickness that breeds in the folds of my mindEvery compliment takes a piece of my soulAn expressionist nagStalling between two foolsThey know nothing –” Sarah Kane, 4.48 Psychosis The stereotype of the tortured artist consists in theContinue reading “On Self-Loathing and Gregor’s Labyrinth”
How ‘Waking Life’ Helped Me Accept My Chaos
“And on really romantic evenings of self, I go salsa dancing with my confusion.” -Timothy “Speed” Levitch, Waking Life Waking Life (2001), a relatively hidden cinematic gem, is a movie directed by Richard Linklater. The main character is a young man who passes through life in a dream state, feeling detached from his dreams andContinue reading “How ‘Waking Life’ Helped Me Accept My Chaos”
Jim Morrison and Control: The Demonization of Natural Instincts
Art piece by Ben G. During this Winter Break, I found myself seeking a form of escapism from letting my mind wander too much, as that is its natural reaction to having any free time. Jim Morrison’s spirit took over my brain’s right hemisphere, and enticed me to a Dyonisiac dream of imbibing my synapsesContinue reading “Jim Morrison and Control: The Demonization of Natural Instincts”
Writer's Block Magazine 