First Advisor
Janice Lee
Date of Award
Spring 2026
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) in Creative Writing and University Honors
Department
English
Language
English
Subjects
Fiction, Poetry, Magical Realism, Surrealism, LGBTQ+, Healing
Abstract
Rebirth is Messy Anyway is a fiction novella that reveals the story of Fiona Song, who is seeking to understand the nature of a mysterious magical phenomenon that has haunted her over the past five months, since becoming possessed by an unknown entity. Fiona embarks on a journey to find inner peace from the metaphysical manifestations of her own mental anguish, bridging her internal self to the people around her, and expressing her unique experience with this phenomenon through the lens of her camera. This story ponders the nature of healing through psychological depth and understanding the manifestation of trauma in the body. Only through undergoing this metaphysical rebirth, understanding more about the living being sleeping inside her, finding deep sensitivity within herself, will she find this inner resolve.
In my fictional prose, surrealism brings imagery that transcends reality or logic, often to portray deeper truths of the human experience by relying on the strange and evocative while breaking away from traditional form. Writers such as Emily Dickinson employ this style while blending the conscious with the unconscious mind. Fiona Song's story seeks to blend the external natural world with the psychological depth of Fiona's internal world.
Persistent Identifier
https://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/44725
Recommended Citation
Rudine, Lilli Belle, "Rebirth is Messy Anyway: A Fiction Novella" (2026). University Honors Theses. Paper 1777.