Post Punk PhD

A monochrome rainbow, a white cat and an artist explore a wonderful garden of computer game design theory. Melbourne, Australia. Junkblog: monokin.tumblr.com

[fuckyou-design]

[lostupnorth]

When you feel perpetually unmotivated, you start questioning your existence in an unhealthy way; everything becomes a pseudo intellectual question you have no interest in responding whatsoever. This whole process becomes your very skin and it does not merely affect you; it actually defines you. So, you see yourself as a shadowy figure unworthy of developing interest, unworthy of wondering about the world - profoundly unworthy in every sense and deeply absent in your very presence.

Ingmar Bergman (via lostupnorth)

[pics-that-make-you-go-hmm]

[merriweatherpostpaviliontshirt]

No!

[postpunkphd-blog]

“I don’t play games” says my otherwise excellent housemate, who owns scrabble, monopoly, cranium, uno and taboo.

“I don’t play games” says my elsewise exemplary teacher, who has a five-year old child.

“I don’t play games”  says my normally wonderful friend, who exists as a person in the world.

*snrrrrrrrrrp* says Roast Beef as he tries to kill a shoelace. (Why do cats try to kill inanimate objects. Is it because they are scared of the actuality of death, or is killing so much a part of their being they have to bring it to everything, like the man who talks about his job at parties.)

I think they do. I think everyone does.

As adults our behavioural boundaries are invisible and maintained by an equilibrium of individual and collective judgement; the virtues of experience, responsibility, conscientiousness and courteousness having to find their reflections in our bodies. To be called childish and immature is an insult to we beings, and so play is in adults finds narrow, appropriate, expressions. Adult outlets for play are art, humour, food and sex (and even these have strict rules and conventions).

One friend speculates it’s because of the rules we internalise as we become adults, as we reject our own child selves to seek admission into the adult world. As we must learn to control our own behaviour, regulating others becomes a way to regulate ourselves. Another friend says it’s because people relate to each other based on pre-defined expectations, and people who break those expectations challenge our assumptions, which hurts. And another says it’s a cultural fear that if rules of behaviour didn’t exist then society would fall into anarchy.

[postpunkphd-blog]

Types of art, a quick list

Your favourite thing: let’s make it weird

Pay attention to this thing you take for granted

This thing you thought was normal is actually really strange

I just thought it looked pretty

Many, many eyes

Attractive women not doing much

Landscapes

[shitmystudentswrite]

Octopi

Think about octopi. There are no ‘rich octopi’ or ‘poor octopi’ there are only octopi trying to survive.

[googleplaysore]

[lugubriousgame-deactivated20170]

[fascist]

Sartre and his cat called Nothing.

[postpunkphd-blog]

Roast Beef looks up to himself

[lolmythesis]

Video games are just really cool versions of The Bible.

English Literature, Macquarie University.

“The Impact of Video Game Interactivity on the Narrative”

Read Thesis Here!

[alienpapacy]

“We do not have a priori an incapacity to hold all these dragon bones. Gender puts forth both our desire for dragon bones and the limits of fulfilling this desire.” —Judith Butler in her review of Skyrim for IGN

[coolfreeringtones-deactivated20]

[mournjargon]

Ultimately, psychoanalysis reaffirms the lesson one might draw from the most serious and celebrated novels: that identity is a failure; that we do not happily become men or women, that the internalization of social norms (which sociologists theorize as something that happens smoothly and inexorably) always encounters resistance and ultimately does not work: we do not become who we are supposed to be.

Jonathan Culler, Literary Theory: A Very Short Introduction. (via mournjargon)

[loopdeloop-blog]

Pong Loek Vugs, The Netherlands check out more of their work at http://loekvugs.tumblr.com/

[postpunkphd-blog]

a theorist when he gets to his hotel room: there's a lot to unpack here

[urhajos]

Not on my side

[haleystudies-deactivated2017062]

This is a matter very close to my heart. I have bipolar I disorder and ADHD as a result of bipolar. There aren’t many big posts about studying with mental illnesses so I figured I would compile a huge list of tips and posts! I’m going to be making a video about this very soon. I hope for all of you struggling that this can help or at least remind you that mental health is more important than school sometimes. Take care of yourself in any way you can. lets get started…

Studying with Mental Illness

Take things slowly. Don’t be afraid to take a week doing one assignment. Making sure that you can focus on assignments can be draining so breaking them down day by day can truly help you. Make a task list with each portion of an assignment mapped out so that you can see exactly what you need to do. I know that i get overwhelmed very easily and seeing smaller things is less daunting then having a list full of HUGE things like research papers and midterms. Seeing it as “write paragraph one” or “review unit one vocab” makes everything less scary. 

Nothing has to be pretty. Notes don’t, papers don’t have to be perfect, study guides don’t need to be colorful and cute. What really matters is getting things done. My mom always tells me “even an F is better than a zero” which is so true. Turning things in late is not shameful because you are still turning it in. You still did it and that is something to be proud of. 

Study somewhere other than your room or your house. Make sure there are people there. Surrounding yourself with others will allow you to feel less isolated and sometimes more motivated to do things. You can’t take naps when you’re at a Panera or Starbucks either. People can be motivating, they can remind you that you are not alone, they can hold you accountable for what you have to do. Get out of your bed where you can sit and stare at the wall and go to a coffee shop or the library where other people are doing work. This always helps me get on track. 

Study in short bursts. Don’t wear yourself out with work. Find out when your concentration peaks and go with that. I usually work the best around 2pm so I have to make sure that I have eaten and showered before then so that I can capture that time to focus on my studies. 

Don’t beat yourself up. Studying just takes a lot more effort other days when depression hits you the worst. There might be days when you can barely get yourself out of bed but know that you do have the ability to succeed and that depression just has to suck sometimes. 

Get yourself out of bed. Shower. Change your clothes. Read a single page. Look at only one thing you have to do so you aren’t overwhelmed. That is something to be proud of and know that I am proud of what you did!

Study in a routine style. Let yourself have a routine that you can fall into. Try pomodoros or study games, Create a routine that you can stick to

If you don’t feel like doing anything… work for 5 minutes. You may feel more motivated or up, or you will at least be able to say that you have done something. 

HYDRATE. I’m really awful at drinking a lot of water, but it helps so much with both anxiety and depression. Water keeps you moving and awake. SO drink that H2O guys

Helpful Links

Staying Sane on Campus

Tips to stay mentally and emotionally healthy while you study

How to school when mentally Ill

Depression

Studying with Depression

Depression study tips

Studying through Depression

6 Tips To Get Motivated When You’re Feeling Depressed

Five Ways To Deal With Depression During Exams

Anxiety

Anxiety in Grad school

Dealing with Stress and Anxiety

Studying with Anxiety

Get Ready for School If You Suffer From Anxiety

Living & Studying with Anxiety

ADHD

How to succeed with ADHD

10 Study tips for ADHD students

I couldn’t find any resources about OCD, BPD, PTSD, or bipolar for that fact so keep on the lookout for any additions to this post if I find anything more! If all else fails, just google things. That always helps me. Message me personally if you have any questions about my struggles or need some specific advice! I love you all so much and I am so proud of you!! xx Haley