Description
The impetus for this project came from my desire to create an impactful work of fiction, like so many that I have read, that will lead readers to reconsider their own place and purpose. I wanted to broach subjects that were meaningful, ones that create an opportunity for edification, and ones that I know to be challenging for many. I fused the notions of things celestial and beautiful such as art and music with the tragic effects of loneliness, recreational narcotic use and, ultimately, drug and alcohol addiction. These concepts spiral out and go on to inform the reader about art history and criticism as well as psychological problems such as dependency and co-dependency among others. Despite the seriousness of some of the central topics, I needed the piece to have a hopeful, if not ambiguous, conclusion. Gleaning from the oeuvre of so many writers, poets, and artists, I have constructed a cursorily autobiographical work of fiction. Taking from my own experiences, fears, and dreams, and including a fictionalized world based solidly in reality, I was able to piece together the story of a young girl in search of freedom both literal and artistic. With the occasional nod to music and film traditions, the poetry of lyrics, women's studies, the visual arts, family and interpersonal relationships, drug and alcohol dependency, and the journey, this text explores the many facets and undulations of human emotion. As a result of my exposure to and immersion in varied disciplines, I chose to work in the medium of fiction. This medium allows for the best combination of these myriad fields and in the most accessible manner. During my studies, I learned to speak about art intelligently, I learned to create art, and criticize art. I learned to straddle multiple disciplines and integrate them with one another. I considered the traditions of literary criticism, the endless possibilities of the novel, and the fluidity of language while writing. In an act of catharsis, I was able to meld the characterization in this story with my own self-exploration. I hope to leave the reader with some answers and catalyze many more questions. If this work is able to stimulate critical thought and discussion, it will be a success.
