English Language and Literature ETDs

Publication Date

Spring 4-14-2022

Abstract

This autoethnography argues that alternative discourses are necessary to give voice to non-dominant narratives and to engage with underrepresented identities and experiences. I use the frameworks of constellating identities and decolonial imaginaries to explore the narratives of my Central American immigrant parents and my own first generation Central American-American experiences. Specifically, I examine a graphic narrative and multimodal installation that I created in order to discover enacted constellating identities that are not fixed but disbursed and change over time. I also describe the decolonial imaginaries, the “third spaces” that are created from the lived experiences of underrepresented individuals, made visible in these narratives. Understanding and accessing constellating identities and decolonial imaginaries is vital to countering the shame, secrecy and silence that is common among the Central American diaspora.

Degree Name

English

Level of Degree

Doctoral

Department Name

English

First Committee Member (Chair)

Bethany Davila

Second Committee Member

Andrew Bourelle

Third Committee Member

Mia Sosa-Provencio

Fourth Committee Member

Pisarn Bee Chamcharatsri

Fifth Committee Member

Malea Powell

Language

English

Keywords

decolonial imaginary, constellation identities, alternative discourses, autoethnography, Central American

Document Type

Dissertation

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