UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones May 2017 It’s Not about Brooklyn Elee Maybelle Oak University of Nevada, Las Vegas Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalscholarship.unlv.edu/thesesdissertations Part of the Creative Writing Commons Repository Citation Oak, Elee Maybelle, "It’s Not about Brooklyn" (2017). UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones. 3021. http://dx.doi.org/10.34917/10986105 This Thesis is protected by copyright and/or related rights. It has been brought to you by Digital Scholarship@UNLV with permission from the rights-holder(s). You are free to use this Thesis in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s) directly, unless additional rights are indicated by a Creative Commons license in the record and/ or on the work itself. 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IT’S NOT ABOUT BROOKLYN By Elee Oak Bachelor of Fine Arts – Sculpture School of Visual Arts NYC 2012 A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment Of the requirements for the Master of Fine Arts – Creative Writing Department of English College of Liberal Arts The Graduate College University Nevada, Las Vegas May 2017 Thesis Approval The Graduate College The University of Nevada, Las Vegas March 31, 2017 This thesis prepared by Elee Oak entitled It’s Not about Brooklyn is approved in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Fine Arts – Creative Writing Department of English Maile Chapman, Ph.D. Kathryn Hausbeck Korgan, Ph.D. Examination Committee Chair Graduate College Interim Dean Donald Revell, Ph.D. Examination Committee Member Evelyn Gajowski, Ph.D. Examination Committee Member Joanne Goodwin, Ph.D. Graduate College Faculty Representative ii Abstract My work at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas in the Master of Fine Arts Creative Writing program has culminated into a collage form hybrid comprised of vignettes, poetry, and other creative works. The writing engages central themes, through the Queer gaze of the character Sissy. She became suspect at an early age because of her odd aptitudes along with a physical appearance that never fit. She dodged and at times embraced an identification as a sort of side show curiosity, and an intoxicated freak of gender, race, and talent. She survived physical and mental attacks. Then she blindly stepped into the path of a Brooklyn man, whose wake destroyed her, renewed her, and relieved her of the blinding privilege of class. The underlying threads woven through these include a gritty spirituality, a pushing against classifications and identities, and buried histories unearthed. In disillusionment, through forced identities, and while defending against ongoing threats she is shaped into a creative yet practical ghost of sorts. In addition to these foundational stories and themes, the ritual of tea is a connecting consideration. Some pieces highlight a childhood of drug use in the heartland of Iowa, and the Bible belt states of Kansas and Missouri. At times there is a return to Brooklyn, where a rape iii instigated for the purpose of restoring Sissy to her straight nature, instead conceived a son. Some of the works are re- envisioned art works that were destroyed or appropriated throughout her life. There are pieces that reexamine her relationship with her mother who died young and high. It is strangely tragic and yet intends to retain a fairy dust lining. A humbled account of her truths, her motives and her flaws, is meant to inspire a fresh look at constructions and illusions, how we perpetuate them, how we survive them. And how sometimes we perpetuate them in order to survive. iv Table of Contents Abstract..................................................... iii Table of Contents .............................................. 1 List of Figures ................................................ 4 1. Tale of Blinds .............................................. 5 2. Ms. Mama Sis April 2013 .................................... 10 3. Tale of White Wicker ....................................... 12 4. Tale of Accidental Birth ................................... 13 5. Eight Passed MayBelle ...................................... 17 6. Tale of a Blue-eyed Jesus .................................. 18 7. Tale of a Shiny Grey Oval .................................. 20 8. Seeking in the Wake of Pleasant Tremors .................... 24 9. Tale of Jane, Li’ Jane and Christie ........................ 25 10. Friends Don’t Squirm ...................................... 29 11. Tale of Rebirthing Grounds ................................ 30 12. Ms. Mama Sis March 2014 ................................... 34 13. Seeking in the Wake of White .............................. 40 14. Tale of Guns and Coins .................................... 41 15. Seeking in the Wake of a Righteous Foot ................... 43 16. Tales of the Mermaid Queen ................................ 44 17. Tale of Brick Yard Dancing ................................ 50 18. Tale of a Pretty White Bed ................................ 51 19. Ms. Mama Sis .............................................. 62 20. Tale of the Mail Away ..................................... 63 21. Sole of My Mouth .......................................... 87 22. Ms. Mama Sis .............................................. 90 23. Tale of the Multipurpose Room ............................. 92 v 24. Bright Fright ............................................. 97 25. Tale of Northern Iowa ..................................... 98 26. Professional Rescuers, David ............................. 101 27. Tale of not meeting a Sissy .............................. 102 28. Seeking in the Wake of Clay .............................. 114 29. Through the Cold Brick Embraces .......................... 116 30. Ms. Mama Sis June 2015 ................................... 118 31. Tale of Black Bread ...................................... 120 32. Farther from Father ...................................... 126 33. Letter to my Michael ..................................... 127 34. Tale of Morning Tea for Three ............................ 132 35. Tales of White Plaster ................................... 164 36. Tale of Textures There ................................... 166 37. Tale of Home ............................................. 168 38. Tale of Moral Degradation ................................ 177 39. Tale of Pretty Suits and Ties ............................ 184 40. Tale of a Glorified Shopping Cart ........................ 189 41. Nodding Sherri is with Child ............................. 207 42. Tale from After an Errand ................................ 208 43. Ms. Mama Sis June 2015 ................................... 223 44. Rock a lie Maybe ......................................... 224 45. Ms. Mama Sis April 2016 .................................. 226 46. Tale of Reaching ......................................... 230 47. Seeking in the Wake of Fever Song ........................ 237 48. Ms. Mama Sis April 2016 .................................. 238 49. On Account On ............................................ 242 50. Tale of a Goose Girl ..................................... 243 51. Tale of an Old Family Album .............................. 249 51. In-Take Taking ........................................... 256 51. Tricks Enough ............................................ 257 52. Tale of Slumber Party at Theresa’s House ................. 259 vi 52. Tale of Gods Holy Angels ................................. 269 53. Death Can Be ............................................. 278 54. Tales Envisioning my Elbow ............................... 279 55. Tale of Dear Dr. Charles ................................. 289 Curriculum Vitae ............................................. 292 vii List of Figures Figure 1. Shoulder Chip .......................................9 Figure 2. Map of a Young Grrl. .............................. 23 Figure 3. My Room World. .................................... 49 Figure 4. Blowing Kansas. .................................. 131 Figure 5. Ducting. ......................................... 163 Figure 6. Conceptions. ..................................... 206 Figure 7. All Souls Day. ................................... 229 Figure 8. Childs Play. ..................................... 268 Figure 9. Pissing On Today. ................................ 288 viii 1. Tale of Blinds Korte went to the front of the class. No one knew why Mr. MacNulty called on him. Korte looked scared and Mr. MacNulty didn’t look any more happy than his usual self. He was an x- military man, who backed up the rumors of child abuse with a wooden paddle and his infamous “milk shake”. “Do you know why I called you up here, Korte?” “No Sir.” “You were talking while I gave the instructions for the test.” “Sorry Sir.” “Oh! It’s okay. You are going to repeat them to the class, for anyone who did not hear, because of the disruption.” Sissy knew this was her fault. She had asked Korte if she could borrow a pencil since he always kept extras. She raised her hand. “Put your hand down Sissy. What you have to share is not pertinent here.” Ever since kindergarten they had been warned about Mr. MacNulty and now Sissy felt horrible