Date of Award
2026-05-01
Degree Name
Master of Fine Arts
Department
Creative Writing
Advisor(s)
Tim Z. Hernandez
Abstract
Inspired by a wide swath of influences, including: Catholic mystics, cinema, comic books, lived experience, and Rock and Roll, I'm Still Here, the creative work that anchors this thesis, follows Dave Belfiore, who finds himself in "The Void" after his accidental, and tragic passing.
Pulling from the previously mentioned influences, as well as the author's own upbringing and anxieties, the story follows Dave has he comes to terms with his death, and grapples with aspects of guilt, generational trauma, and trying to find his place in this new world, while watching his family adjust to their life without him.
The Critical Preface deconstructs the existential drama of I'm Still Here, discussing in detail how the influences, and the author's own experiences fed one another to create a unique story viewed through a, perhaps surprisingly, non-denominational lens.
Presented as a modified screenplay, the creative work is intended to be used as a script for a Graphic Novel. The preface further details the decision to script the creative work as a graphic novel, rather than a film, allowing the reader to have agency over the temporal pacing of the story.
A heartfelt and immersive tale, punctuated with humor, I'm Still Here, is a take on the traditional hero's journey, that uses words and images to portray a deeply personal, yet universal meditation on life, death, and the cosmic interconnectedness of the universe.
Language
en
Provenance
Received from ProQuest
Copyright Date
2026-05
File Size
181 p.
File Format
application/pdf
Rights Holder
Michael Sean Moore, Jr
Recommended Citation
Moore, Michael Sean Jr, "A Script for the Graphic Novel: I'm Still Here" (2026). Open Access Theses & Dissertations. 4738.
https://scholarworks.utep.edu/open_etd/4738