Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

Date

2026

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Fine Arts

Department

English

Committee Chair

Eric Schlich

Committee Member

Courtney Santo

Committee Member

Sarai Walker

Abstract

There is no Cure is a short story collection that explores themes of bodily autonomy and identity through the lenses of queerness, disability, and first-generation American and immigrant experiences. Descending from a mix of the Gothic tradition as well as Latin American magical realism, these stories focus on the role of monstrousness, bodily transformation and demonization, and systemic and generational trauma and violence. Gender and sexuality are both prominent, focusing on female protagonists with complicated relationships to societal expectations surrounding girlhood and gender roles. Female relationships – familial, platonic, and romantic – are at the forefront of several narratives. An overarching desire to ‘go back’, either in time or place, and the subsequent realization that such change is irreversible, is pivotal to the arcs explored here. The majority of stories are written in the first-person present tense, with some slipping into second person to create an audience within the story or leaning into that folkloric tone. The manuscript draws inspiration from Gothic writers such as Mary Shelley and Shirley Jackson as well as magical realism from Juan Rulfo and Cristina Garcia to contemporary mixes of the two such as Mariana Enriquez and Carmen Maria Machado.

Comments

Data is provided by the student.”

Library Comment

Dissertation or thesis originally submitted to ProQuest/Clarivate.

Notes

Embargoed until 12-01-2099

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Available for download on Tuesday, December 01, 2099

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Archival Statement

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