Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Psyche.
The Cure That Wouldn't Come
I am seven, huddled in a corner of the bathroom, breath suspended. No one can see me behind this locked door. No one can hear me, either. I have mastered the art of crying noiselessly. But still I hold my breath, wait for the sounds of footsteps to pass.
By Joanna Celeste5 years ago in Psyche
The Tao of Zack
Zack, just released from the hospital after his third suicide attempt, is heading off to Columbus, Ohio with a girl he met in AA two months ago. Two equally miserable, desperate heroin addicts fleeing the hostile desert, seeking a fresh start. He has no money, no job, no teeth in his upper jaw, no real life, no clear path forward. He will exchange one hopeless life for another.
By Emma Dillon5 years ago in Psyche
No one's perfect
What is wrong with me? A question I never get an answer to. They say no ones perfect, everyone has flaws, just be yourself but if thats the norm, then I'm not normal at all. There are so many things that go on inside my head, that would make you scream and run. Thats why I keep it hidden away. Where no one can see the real me. I am to afraid of what they will say if I tell the truth. If I let my demons come out to play, but they get a little to rough sometimes. So, it's better they stay inside.
By Shelby Schwartz5 years ago in Psyche
The waiting game
Her anxiety grows, alone in this cell waiting for either freedom or she fears more punishment. A tear falls as she gazes around her room. A small childs bed that she had outgrown years ago. A small four drawer dresser sits in the shadows, barely filled with clothes. A small wooden table by her bed that holds her only light.
By Wanda Lynn5 years ago in Psyche
The System: A cause of sociopathy?
The Joker by Todd Philips sheds light on the many causes, effects, and questions of living in a Neoliberal society. It is a film that has beautifully found ways to describe and explain the inexpressible feelings of constraints, frustrations, and struggles, that are only prevalent in people that were “unfortunate enough” to be born in poverty-ridden, low- and middle-class families, who end up being victims to the definition of a ‘perfect society’ and the ‘American dream’ - two things that are the dressings of capitalistic societies. Todd Philips conforms to Marx’s claims, in “Estranged Labour”, that capitalism estranges us from ourselves and other people (331) when he begins to depict his claims in the film. Joaquin Phoenix, as the main protagonist, has embodied these emotions, struggles and effects of this capitalistic society into Arthur Fleck, a victim - of the society, his family, himself – looking for his recognition and sanity among the insane. In the film he says, ‘Is it just me or is it getting crazier out here?’ (04:54) and in his journal he writes, ‘I don’t want to die with people just stepping over me, I want to be seen’ (06:25). According to Karl Marx, in “Estranged Labour”, ‘[e]very self-estrangement of man from himself and nature is manifested in the relationship he sets up between other men and himself and nature’ (Marx, 1844). Self-estrangement is ‘the alienation of man's essence, man's loss of objectivity and his loss of realness as self-discovery, manifestation of his nature, objectification and realization’ (Marx, 1844). It is when one feels estranged from others and society, when he realizes his deeds have no meaning or worth as a single entity, yet is worth beyond him, as a living entity. This alienation is the root of the development of Arthurs character in the film, where he is slowly losing his mind, trying to find meaning and recognition in a world that is too busy making meaning for itself as it stomps on another, like a hunting ground that preys on its kind to succeed. Arthur is the victim of this alienation (a cause of capitalism) and the film grounds on this Marxist concept to depict the consequences of neoliberalism in a capitalist society, disguised in Arthur fleck as a character that transforms into The Joker.
By Thaniya P. M. Amaravathi5 years ago in Psyche
Sleeping With Insomnia
Her name was Insomnia. I met her when I was fifteen and she was otherworldly. She had energy to spare and once she focused on something she would work at it until she finished. I learnt a lot from her like how to play video games better and how to read whole novels until daybreak. I learnt how to focus my energy into more desirable things like schoolwork and research. And when she left each morning, a bright new day had begun. Sometimes we would hang out for days without end. And sometimes she would kiss me good night and I would fall into the deepest slumber. But even then she lingered in the back of my mind, she perforated my dreams as if by an act of magic and never truly left me to be alone. Insomnia has always been there for me (and still is). She was ever present, like God, but she was not quite and still and comforting. She was motivation incarnate, excitement, energy, she was the plural of actions and a universe of ideas. Insomnia was wakefulness amidst the mellow tone of the world. She forced me to be; a powerful presence behind the man I would become.
By Antonio Rodriguez5 years ago in Psyche
Jeffree Star
Social media has been known to cause a lot of issues whether it's the creation of unrealistic beauty standards or the normalization of violent content, it is not a stranger to criticism. Knowing this, it has become too common to cancel anything that doesn't fit the ethical standards of today without truly analyzing its impact and if it is necessary. So I decided to talk about a topic that interests me, youtube drama, and how its creators deal with controversies. Indeed, the creators on platforms such as youtube have a great influence on today's youth affecting the way they perceive the world. They can be greatly influenced by the content that is shared. This brings me to Jeffree Star. The man who started his career as a singer and songwriter but who acquired enormous success with his videos about makeup that later gave birth to Jeffree Star Cosmetics, a company that acquired him a fortune of 'approximately $ 200 million. He now has 16.9 million subscribers on his still-growing channel.
By Aidan Cross5 years ago in Psyche
