Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Date

2025

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Fine Arts

Department

Creative Writing

Committee Chair

Mark Mayer

Committee Member

Eric Schlich

Committee Member

Marcus Wicker

Abstract

Sons of Macho and Other Messes is an invitation to explore masculinity and its role in society today through a voice of imagination, vulnerability, and hope. Every story here, in its own working, reckons with the way that our society passes down the systems of patriarchy through domestic relationships, especially between parents and children. The characters in these stories are pushed to explore the role of these relationships in how they have developed as human beings and how they perceive the world around them. All of these dynamics are traumatic, but they are all hopeful as well. Through the use of heavily metaphorical imagery and oftentimes, surrealist plot mechanics, the emotional truths and conflicts of these characters are experienced outside of themselves to discuss the importance of emotional vulnerability in this reckoning. This collection acknowledges that we are currently living inside of a crumbling house and the longer we wait to dismantle the broken systems keeping a roof over our heads, the more we will lose when everything finally falls.

Comments

Data is provided by the student.

Library Comment

PDF

Notes

Open access.

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