Survival of the Fixed-est: Alien Invasion of Human Identity in Octavia Butler\u27s Dawn

While many definitions for science fiction have been offered over the years since the genre’s inception, Robert A. Heinlein’s definition, with its easy-to-follow five-point format, remains one of the most specific and comprehensive. Heinlein argues that, in a science fiction story: 1. The conditions must be, in some respect, different from here-and-now, although the difference may lie only in an invention made in the course of the story. 2. The new conditions must be an essential part of the story. 3. The problem itself—the plot —must be a human problem. 4. The human problem must be one which is created by, or indispensably affected by, the new conditions. 5. And lastly, no established fact shall be violated, and, furthermore, when the story requires that a theory contrary to present accepted theory be used, the new theory should be rendered reasonably plausible and it must include and explain established facts as satisfactorily as the one the author saw fit to junk. (17, emphasis in original) Octavia Butler’s Dawn fits Heinlein’s definition of science fiction because it takes place in an apocalyptic future, the conditions of which are important to the story; it centers on the human problem of how to maintain a distinctly human identity in the face of genetic, social, sexual, Pretzer 2 emotional, and psychological manipulation and domination by an alien race; and it avoids scientific implausibility by explaining its violations of usual facts

Snapshot in a Squiggle: How Painting Terminology Illuminates Short Fiction

This paper will demonstrate that painting terms can offer a helpful avenue to understand short fiction, particularly abstract short fiction. After defining abstraction, realism, and the short story, it will trace relevant stages in the evolution of both painting and short fiction to show how and why the media share similar elements. In this examination, the paper will discuss which features of painting correspond with certain features of short fiction. Based on the essential elements of short fiction, as well as the features mentioned above, the paper will analyze examples of short stories that exemplify how painting parallels short fiction and how terminology drawn from that field can help illuminate abstract short stories

Burning the Bridges She\u27s Crossed: The Migrant as Deserter of Roots in Jasmine

Graduate Textual or Investigativ

The Storying of Colombian Writing Centers

Using the results from a study conducted on Colombian writing centers, this thesis applies principles from narrative theory to posit a grand narrative for Colombian writing center professionals. The study was modeled on one Jackie Grutsch McKinney used to examine US writing center professionals’ descriptions of their work, and the thesis includes a comparison with her results. Respondents were asked to answer seven questions, two of which were multiple choice and five of which were short answer. The questions asked respondents to describe their tutoring staff composition, their center’s operations, writing centers in general, and ways their center resembles and differs from other Colombian centers. The study, which involved both quantitative and qualitative analysis, found that Colombian writing centers prioritize reading and orality, in addition to writing, and utilize faculty tutors in a way that US centers generally do not. The responses also displayed a strong community focus in comparison with US writing centers. Based on the data and conclusions from the study, this thesis also suggests some ways US writing centers can learn from Colombian centers to make their work even more effective

Providing Risk of the Environment’s Changing Climate Threats for Galleries, Libraries, Archives, & Museums (PROTECCT-GLAM) Data File

The data file was created as part of the IMLS-funded project, PROTECCT-GLAM: Risk of The Environment’s Changing Climate Threats for Galleries, Libraries, Archives, and Museums in an effort to gather the identities and georeferences of all galleries, libraries, archives, and museums located within the United States. The data file includes 22,388 archives, 21,189 libraries, and 29,781 museums