Apparent Magnitude

Authors

Diana AnayaFollow

Document Type

Thesis

Degree

Master of Fine Arts (MFA)

Major/Program

Creative Writing

First Advisor's Name

Julie Marie Wade

First Advisor's Committee Title

Committee Chair

Second Advisor's Name

Denise Duhamel

Second Advisor's Committee Title

Committee Member

Third Advisor's Name

Anna Luszczynska

Third Advisor's Committee Title

Committee Member

Keywords

Arts and Humanities, Creative Writing, Nonfiction

Date of Defense

3-6-2019

Abstract

APPARENT MAGNITUDE is a collection of lyric essays that explores family relationships, the Cuban-American immigrant experience, coming-of-age, and sexual trauma through the dual lenses of science and myth. This collection uses experimental forms, playing with the page. The experiences of an immigrant Cuban family are recounted through extended metaphors of celestial bodies, fairy tales, fables, and myths.

The literary influences of APPARENT MAGNITUDE include Rebecca McClanahan’s lyric essay, “Interstellar,” as well as A SMALL PLACE by Jamaica Kincaid. McClanahan’s use of scientific language and the metaphor of celestial bodies informs the way this collection approaches autobiographical experience. Kincaid’s prose style informs the incantatory and declarative tone of various pieces. The visual design and spatial elements of APPARENT MAGNITUDE are influenced by A. Van Jordan’s M-A-C-N-O-L-I-A and Tamiko Beyer’s WE COME ELEMENTAL.

Identifier

FIDC007066

Recommended Citation

Anaya, Diana, "Apparent Magnitude" (2019). FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 4055.
https://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/etd/4055