AbstractsLanguage, Literature & Linguistics

Secondhand Stories is a collection of four short stories that seek to present a variety of social issues thought the lens of a small town. The collection was written with the theme of small towns in mind to show how that specific community problematizes those issues. A small town setting highlights the unique ways that a small town confronts issues found in society. It is not always pretty, but at times it can be beautiful because of the small and intimate community. The stories tackle a range of topics such as: LGBTQ issues, depression, gender stereotypes, and homelessness. In my critical introduction I discuss the ways that I am seeking to go beyond the stories in the LGBTQ community that only address a character???s sexuality by choosing not to center the plot of most of my stories on sexuality. The introduction discusses my desire to move beyond the traditional queer narrative by writing in many different voices and though the lens of many different communities. The introduction discusses the history, responsibility and expectations that come with writing within the boundaries of a marginalized community. For myself, the relationship to those boundaries are filled with conflicting feelings. Advisors/Committee Members: Eggers, Paul (advisor).