Date of Award

Spring 2006

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Department

English

Program/Concentration

Creative Writing

Committee Director

Luisa Igloria

Committee Member

Michael Pearson

Committee Member

Philip Raisor

Call Number for Print

Special Collections; LD4331.E64 M59 2006

Abstract

"In Cowboy America" is just as much a coming-of-age memoir about a young writer as it is about the Filipino-American experience. In 16 chapters I recall memories of family members—Grandmother, aunts, uncles and parents—as well as memories of my own. The stories capture events from my childhood years to marriage. The text also encapsulates family events of the past, before I was even born, and brings them to the forefront to show how they have shaped who I am today: a writer who has chosen a career most Asians, and Asian-Americans in general, have decided not to pursue. The memoir also explores the dynamics of a family divided between cultures—in this case, the Philippine and the American. What is America? It is one thing to those who come here and something else to those, like me, who are born here. In this sense, the memoir takes the reader through a journey of the heart of one family—my family—as well as a physical journey from East to West, both in-country and internationally. This is a story of how we are molded by the landscape we live on and the landscapes we dream about. This is a story of whom we are shaped by, the people we come from and the people we meet. This is a story of wanting to leave the past behind and push forward on roads frequently traveled by others. But most of all, this is a story of how past becomes the present and no matter how hard we try to fight it, there are some memories that are meant to be revealed, even if it means taking "the road less traveled by."

Rights

In Copyright. URI: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item 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).

DOI

10.25777/gf2n-vz56

Download

Share

COinS