Through Currents of Flesh and Memory

Publication Date

Spring 2014

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Fine Arts (MFA)

Department

English and Comparative Literature

Advisor

Nicholas Taylor

Subject Areas

Fine arts; Intellectual property; Literature

Abstract

Representations of women of color in literature are often restricted to what is marketable to an Anglo audience. Writers of color have often expressed frustration because of not being read as an "authentic" representation of their people even though their experiences are lived and valid. This collection of short stories is a work of resistance, challenging the preconceived notions on what it means to be Mexican in the United States and what it means to be a woman of color in the twenty-first century.

Diverse representations of people of color (in this case, specifically women of color) are integral to the formative development of children and young adults of color. Growing up without seeing oneself in literature only serves to reinforce preconceived notions and internalized racism. Literature has an obligation to reflect the world in which it exists. This collection of short stories offers a small glimpse into the parts of life not often reflected in popular media and literature. In a world where molds are created and forced upon not only writers but readers, it is important to emphasize that lived experiences not only break from common tropes but are that much more valid. This collection is an act of subversion via visibility.

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