Date of Award
Spring 5-3-2025
Abstract
In almost all crimes, there is a victim, a perpetrator, and someone trying to uncover the truth. These tropes are often highlighted in fiction – told in thrillers, mysteries, or true-crime books that include intense themes, suspenseful moments, and plot twists. Stories of the Silenced is a collection of short stories told from the perspective of three characters in an exploration of cycles of violence and silence. Each character – a detective, victim, and serial killer – responds to and engages with the world differently, and their individual lives are shared. Each story emphasizes the idea of mixed media to further enhance the reader experience by using images, spacing, font changes, textual hierarchy, etc., to add to the intimacy of storytelling. By disrupting the traditional space of the page through mixed media, a door opens that allows readers to see through a direct lens into the world of the characters and plot. One of the most important considerations in fiction writing is how to engage readers, and Stories of the Silenced focuses on the visuality of the page to strengthen that connection.
Advisor
Dr. Jennifer Buentello
Committee Member 1
Dr. Gary McDowell
Committee Member 2
Dr. Susan Finch
Department
English, Department of
College
Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, College of
Document Type
Thesis
Degree
Master of Arts (MA)
Degree Level
Master's
Degree Grantor
Belmont University
Recommended Citation
Burdette, Rylanne, "Stories of the Silenced and Mixed Media in Fiction: Disrupting Tradition for the Enhancement of Reader Experience" (2025). English Creative Writing Theses. 6.
https://repository.belmont.edu/english_creative_theses/6
