Semester
Spring
Date of Graduation
2022
Document Type
MFA Creative Writing Thesis
Degree Type
MFA
College
Eberly College of Arts and Sciences
Department
English
Committee Chair
Ann Pancake
Committee Co-Chair
Glenn Taylor
Committee Member
Glenn Taylor
Committee Member
Kathleen Ryan
Abstract
“Cattywampus” is a collection of nine personal essays focusing on the coming-of-age experience of author Katie Clendenin as she grows up in West Virginia and eventually moves within the state to seek a college degree as a first generation student. The collection attempts to define and make sense of the Appalchian experience as the author lived it while critically examining the history that informs it and the systems that control, exploit, and oppress within the region. The essays in the collection feature a mix of lyrical prose describing the landscape of West Virginia as the backdrop for the vivid scenes and anecdotes of growing up in Appalachia with research and examination of the historical, political, and cultural contexts. Throughout the essays, the author grapples with a feeling of betrayal as a symptom of leaving home and undergoing a transformation of identity and ideology. Seven longform essays and two flash pieces combine to create a collection that reflects on history and traditions while optimistically looking to the future of people, places, and politics.
Recommended Citation
Clendenin, Katie Mae, "Cattywampus" (2022). Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports. 11303.
https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/etd/11303
Embargo Reason
Permanent Embargo – MFA Creative Writing