When I was 17, my parents cautioned me not to pursue a career in the arts — lots and lots of dire, strong warnings because I had been continually writing poetry and essays since the third grade (which is when I first learned what ‘poems’ and ‘essays’ were). I’d been recording original songs since I was 12, and my two best friends from high school had the unfortunate experience of witnessing teenage me exploring all manner of creative expression. Indulging these creative compulsions was fine, my parents thought — but just “do it in your free time,” you know. Dutifully … Continue reading Thoughts on Being a Career Sell-Out, Part 4: An Obscenity