Browsing by Author "Mann, Jeff A."

Now showing 1 - 4 of 4
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    The Center of the Known World
    Crickenberger, Sara Margaret (Virginia Tech, 2008-04-14)
    All of the stories in The Center of the Known World are subtly linked by their connection to the Appalachian Mountains — more specifically the Allegheny Mountains — although not all of the stories take place physically in the mountains. They also are linked in that they explore the small changes and shifts that take place in the emotional landscape as we live our daily lives. There are no life or death situations that change characters' lives in the beat of a heart or the shot of a gun. Rather, these are people who deal with gradual shifts in power and understanding. They are people in search of connection and community. Some of them come to seemingly small realizations that change everything. Others battle flaws or demons that keep them from having the things they want most. The first five stories are free-standing pieces. The next two stories — Grand Opening Special at the West End U-Store and A Fine Addiction — are connected by location and characters. I hope eventually there will be other stories in that series. The final part of my thesis — Skin Writing — is the first section of a novel in progress.
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    Fault Lines
    Dulaney, Laura Jaques (Virginia Tech, 2008-04-10)
    Fault Lines is a collection of nine stories that explore the themes of otherness, isolation, and transitions. In most of these stories I explore the concept of isolation in its many forms— emotional, physical, social, and spiritual. Many of my characters are people who have been "othered" for one reason or another, and many of them are people on the cusp, not only of society but also their own lives. I also explore characters who are on the verge of transition, either staring one down with fear and denial, moving hesitantly and trepidatiously toward one, or, in rare instances, jumping gleefully toward that next big moment in their lives. Many of my characters yearn for something to transcend their ordinary, material lives, whether through a spiritual encounter or simply an ordinary yet unusual one. Some of these characters are stuck in the mire of their current lives, and we see an uncomfortable mix of lethargy and longing. Primarily, I explore exactly what catalysts people require in order to move from a state which, though unsatisfying, might be comfortable, to one that is unknown and risky but potentially fulfilling. The title of the collection refers to those moments or events in one's life that indicate or cause shifts or transitions, whether mental, physical, or emotional.
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    "full water"
    Murray, Bryan Christopher (Virginia Tech, 2010-05-12)
    "full water" is a collection of poems examining a single consciousness, from a singular experience, that resonates to generational experiences. full water is a personal and literal landscaping: from the southern calm of Virginia to the innate heartbeat of south Bronx streets, the poems are grounded in a firm sense of place. The personal landscaping strongly connects with this literal landscaping, as this is a collection of someone's constantly leaving, an attempt at establishing identity through the varied parcels of perspective. In the same way, this collection investigates the urban family landscape, the love still possible, despite the conventional shortcomings, the fullness of self, regardless. Through the rhythmic composition of the language, emotion flashes and restrains itself. Within the turns of language, personal truths thrive, in what they don't outwardly say. The book learns its significance from the poems. In the chaos of this, the reader finds kernels of meaning just as the poet did in process.
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    Region as a Cultural Context in Family Therapy
    Hudgins, Cathy Mills (Virginia Tech, 2008-02-15)
    Environmentally-constructed, regional culture as defined by geographic place is not generally included in family therapy research and training concerning race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, and other contextual factors. This grounded theory research project explores how practitioners working with families acknowledge, access, and use region as a cultural context in their service delivery, specifically in the New River Valley region of Southwest Virginia. Ecological theory, social construction theory, family systems theory, and cultural competency perspectives were used to frame the research questions, to develop the interview protocol, and to support the analysis of the properties and dimensions of the concepts and categories that emerged from the data analysis. The resulting grounded theory revealed that clinicians working with regionally distinct clients combine a client-centered approach with multiple-layers of regional knowledge and self-awareness.