Date of Award

2023

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelors

Department

Humanities

First Advisor

Carr, Emily

Area of Concentration

Liberal Arts

Abstract

This collection of experimental lyric poetry titled Scars on an Hourglass and its accompanying Artist’s Statement follow an unnamed female narrator in the aftermath of a fictionalized sexual assault. The structure takes the shape of an hourglass and foregrounds the seasons winter and spring. This collection, inspired by the process of travel, the creation of notebooks featuring collage art and handwritten excerpts, and my experiences within rape culture, is divided into two sections. “Winter,” with short experimental poems uses language to highlight harsh, blue-tinged imagery that conveys themes of identity, assault, and loss. “Spring” places emphasis on images of rebirth and nature as the narrator’s relationship with the typography of the page, others, and herself changes. Using the craft techniques of imagery, syntax, structure and form, pronoun choices, experimental punctuation, and voice, the narrator explores her world, ideas of healing, and temporality. Works by authors Layli Long Soldier, Justin Phillip Reed, Clarice Lispector, the anthologies By Herself, Gurlesque, and )((Eco(Lang)Uage(Reader)) were consulted, along with craft texts including A Primer for Poets & Readers of Poetry by Gregory Orr, The Anti-Racist Writing Workshop by Felicia Chavez, and the anthology Language Awareness: Readings for College Writers.

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