Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI)

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All-American interrogates J. Hector St. John de Crevecoeur’s definition of “American" in the 1782 text, Letters from an American Farmer, which inspired the Eurocentric, sexist and heterosexist ideals girding the notion of what is now called the “American Dream." Mainstream media project narratives that suggest that the ideals in Crevecoeur’s epistles have been fully extended beyond his narrow scope in the Obama era. All-American, however, offers poetry that illuminates modern and contemporary instances in urban and rural settings of racism, colorism, gender bias, ability discrimination and homophobia thwarting this idealistic worldview. Its formal and free verse explores the journey of four generations of one family as members grapple with discrimination, disability and disease and interrogates the heteronormativity and racism that girds the faith to which they cling. Whereas many contemporary poets eschew the confessional in storytelling, All-American employs it unabashedly. Moreover, All-American is interested in language poetry, not only that which plays with various Englishes but also with the languages that color them, that percolate under the surface. It aims to make music of these dialogical languages, these inexorable narratives. It lets the dead and dying tell their stories, which are no less American, though they are unpopular in an America racing to rid itself of past shame. All-American faces the shameful things Americans can do to one another and celebrates humans’ innate will to thrive, love and die with dignity—with hopes of inspiring dialogue and healing that will make American ideals more accessible to those on the periphery. / Master of Fine Arts

The stretch of California Route One (Highway 1) from the City of San Luis Obispo reaching north to the Monterey County line is one of the most scenic drives in the United States. This stretch of highway is a destination in its own right; so much so, the San Luis Obispo North Coast Scenic Byway is federally designated as an All-American Road, the highest scenic designation of any road or highway in the nation. There has been a history for funding the preservation and enhancement of these roads; however, it was removed in 2012. Even with the lack of current funding opportunities, the San Luis Obispo Council of Governments (SLOCOG) continues to recognize the importance of the corridor in attracting valuable tourism revenue thus commissioning this update and economic analysis. Through the economic analysis it was found that visitor spending in the byway region increased by 23% from over $500 million in 2006 to almost $656 million in 2012. In 2012, visitor spending related associated with scenic recognition and enhancement projects along the corridor was about $217,000 in direct revenue. As a result of research, outreach, and data analysis, this project did find that being scenic does make “cents.”

My thesis is a novel-length work of historical fiction entitled Thickwood. The novel can be situated within the context of great/interior plains literature, given its substantial focus on the Thickwood Hills, the northern remnant of the Missouri Coteau. This transition zone between the plains and the mixed boreal forest is an area of geographical and cultural tension. Within this drainage system of the Saskatchewan Rivers, Europeans traded for food and furs with First Nations and Métis peoples, leading to the signing of Treaty 6 and the formation of First Nations Reserves. In Thickwood characters travel across the rugged landscape but also travel into their interior landscape to struggle with questions about belonging and place. During formative years of development, certain landscapes become places of significant attachment, laden with emotional connection and sentiment. This historical work, set in Saskatchewan in 1950, takes place during intense changes after World War Two. Many rural communities without power, good roads, and even telephone services struggled to keep up with post-war development. The cooperative movement, encouraged by Premier Tommy Douglas, was a means for rural people to pool resources to improve their communities. Beef prices were climbing to an all-time high, increasing demand for pastureland. Using close third-person point of view, the novel follows a young female character skilled in ranching, horses, and the sport of baseball. Willomena Swift struggles to find a future for herself after returning from two seasons pitching in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. The lease to her family ranch is about to end and her father sells the remaining land to the growing community pasture. After a rogue stallion kills Willo’s purebred foal, she begins a quest to control the stallion and avoid its villainous owner, who is also the pasture committee chairman. Willo uses wit and skill to survive the perils of the landscape and gains confidence to confront Nesteroff about taking over her home as the new pasture headquarters after her father’s death. The novel Thickwood explores personal connections to rugged homeland, spirited horses, and love.