Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Identifier

6770

Date

2021

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Fine Arts

Major

Creative Writing

Committee Chair

Eric Schlich

Abstract

This is a collection of short stories that explores violence against women and family dynamics in the realm of the fantastical and otherworldly. A marrying of literary and genre elements, this is a work of speculative fiction that includes pieces about a lake monster, a shapeshifter, a Bloody Mary origin story, and a new age cult. Beyond entertainment, each of these premises is used to investigate what changes in the character when violent acts are committed against them, as well as to ask them to confront their own role in that violence. Several of the stories include murdered or kidnapped women and girls. An intentional choice meant to compare the private acts of violence that occur with outlying public ones to point out the sensationalized nature of violence in our society forcing the reader to confront his or her own role in systemic violence. Ultimately, this is a text about healing in spite of violence.

Comments

Data is provided by the student.

Library Comment

Dissertation or thesis originally submitted to the local University of Memphis Electronic Theses & dissertation (ETD) Repository.

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