Abstract:
This thesis explores themes of mental health and identity through two key lenses: the
internal, through subverted monster/creature tropes, and the external, with end of the
world themed Americana. Both of these lenses seek to explore the subject matter in
different ways. The internal hopes to justify the nuance of social behavior and anxiety as
reflected upon oneself, and the external strives to rationalize the weight of situations that
are beyond our control. The stories included vary in length, perspective, but are primarily
told in a semi-absurd literary style – grounding the work in reality but infusing them with
things that are impossible in the real world. The form also varies story to story, utilizing
narrative styles that seek to break the norm of traditional perspective, and infuse each
individual piece with a life all its own.
