Date of Award

2026-05-01

Degree Name

Master of Fine Arts

Department

Creative Writing

Advisor(s)

Daniel Chacon

Abstract

This thesis collection, Obsequium, and Other Stories, explores the emotional and social consequences of poverty, racism, addiction, grief, and generational trauma through a blend of literary fiction, horror, and postmodern satire. Drawing heavily from the author's upbringing in the American South, the collection examines how people navigate systems of oppression while struggling to maintain identity, dignity, and agency. The accompanying critical preface reflects on the author's creative development, personal hardships, and the literary influences that shaped the work, including horror writers such as Stephen King and postmodern authors like Chuck Palahniuk and Percival Everett. Across the stories, recurring themes of loss, alienation, race, religion, and class emerge through deeply flawed yet human characters. Stories such as "Whiteboy" and "Look Away! Dixie Land" confront the lingering inheritance of Southern racism and the contradictions of modern identity politics, while "Obsequium" and "The Lucrative Evils of Maldivian-Owned Petroleum" critique consumerism, organized religion, and the commodification of suffering. Horror functions throughout the collection not merely as spectacle, but as a psychological tool used to expose the violence, fear, and instability buried beneath ordinary life. Central to the collection is "Stool," a dystopian and emotionally autobiographical story that interrogates the brutality of poverty and labor exploitation. Through the character of Shaker Bronson, the story reflects the author's experiences growing up poor and witnessing working-class people sacrifice their lives for survival with little hope of escape. Yet the story also argues for the transformative power of art and creativity as acts of resistance against despair. Ultimately, Obsequium, and Other Stories seeks to illuminate the emotional realities of marginalized and struggling people while asserting storytelling itself as a means of survival, self-understanding, and human connection.

Language

en

Provenance

Received from ProQuest

File Size

131 p.

File Format

application/pdf

Rights Holder

Jesse Epps

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