Elizabeth Ellen May, Thesis Supervisor Carla J. Mulford, Thesis Honors Advisor
Keywords:
creative writing fiction short stories English
Abstract:
Through short fiction, this thesis explores modern issues in love and identity. At times serious and at others ludicrous, this collection tells the stories of the cynical, the tired, and the confused. People often shy away from confusion, but humor and satire often guide these characters’ confrontation of what they don’t understand. These stories deal with adapting the self to unforeseen or unexpected circumstances, the past we carry into our adult lives, and the cyclic nature of life. This collection balances the snarky and satiric narrative voice in some stories with the serious and analytical one in others, revealing the complicated and, often, nonlinear way people deal with life. Contemporary themes, including social media, pop-culture, and the prevalence of reality TV are woven with the “sampling” of the past ever-present in contemporary arts culture. Ultimately, the aim of this thesis is to serve as a reminder that levity can provide comfort and can guide towards acceptance and clarity in senseless times.
