Document Type
Master's Thesis
Graduation Year
May 2019
Emphasis
Emphasis in Creative Writing or Applied Music
Degree Name
Master of Arts
Program Name
Humanities
Program Director
Joan Baranow, PhD
First Reader
Carlos Rodriguez, MA
Second Reader
Gay Lynch, PhD
Abstract
This creative project consists of two parts and revisions the 6th century puranic Goddess myth Devī Māhātmya through a critical ecofeminist lens. The first part serves as an introduction into mythology, ecofeminism, and the historical and contextual aspects of the Devī Māhātmya. This academic essay investigates how myths provide humanity with a sense of meaning and belonging. The second part of this project is a creative writing piece and a contemporary revision of the Devī Māhātmya. The aim of this approach is to demonstrate the extent to which myths continue to inform and shape us, with particular regard to the impact such narratives have on women and the natural world. Moreover, this creative project is a call to revisit old stories and find new, more empowering narratives which affirm the intrinsic value of women and the natural world.