Young Mancunians: A Study in Sense of Place and Alienation within Short Fiction. My PhD submission comprises of a short story cycle entitled Young Mancunians, followed by a reflective and critical exegesis in which I examine notions of alienation and sense of place within the form. In my exegesis I will clarify my interpretation of various terminologies applied to works of short fiction, making the case for the form’s capacity for nuanced and heterogeneous storytelling. Being the central aspect of my short story cycle, I will emphasise how sense of place and alienation pervade works of short fiction. Ultimately, my creative work will demonstrate an original contribution to knowledge by offering new and original depictions of contemporary Manchester from the perspectives of various characters, whilst deconstructing the preconceived notions of the ‘typical Manc’ stereotype. In my exegesis I will scrutinise short fiction’s capacity to explore sense of place and manifestations of alienation with added nuance, analysing the emblematic nature of the conceptions within the form. I will make the case for short fiction’s increasing importance in the modern world, demonstrating the form’s capacity to reflect the fragmented nature of modern society.
| Date of Award | 6 May 2025 |
|---|
| Original language | English |
|---|
| Supervisor | Iona Murphy (Main Supervisor) |
|---|