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CC BY V4.0, Open Access
Thesis
Youth Agency & Resistance: Studying Young Adult Literature Through an Anti-Neoliberal Lens
Washington State University
Master of Arts (MA), Washington State University
2023
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.7273/000005293
Abstract
Lisa Duggan, author of the “Twilight of Equality?” defines neoliberalism as a false separation of culture and economy (xiv). Through the use of three contemporary young adult novels – The Hate U Give, Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe, and Moxie – this thesis explores resistance to this separation and the oppressive structures that it creates. These structures include but are not limited to racial capitalism, heteronormativity, and patriarchy. Each character, all of whom are members of non-normative communities, provides unique positionalities and solutions to engaging with, surviving in, and resisting these structures that keep members of normative communities in situations of power. Starr, Aristotle, and Vivian exemplify accessible forms of youth resistance and activism that challenges a monolithic definition of youth and adolescence as “waiting passively” or “becoming” that negates the validity of their political power (Petrone et al. 510). Finally, this thesis identifies tensions of the selected novels existence within a neoliberal structure that promotes business and may benefit off of the stories of non-normative communities: the publishing industry.
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Details
- Title
- Youth Agency & Resistance
- Creators
- Melanie Rae Bell
- Contributors
- Ashley Boyd (Advisor)Nishant Shahani (Committee Member)Lauren W. Westerfield (Committee Member)
- Awarding Institution
- Washington State University
- Academic Unit
- English, Department of
- Theses and Dissertations
- Master of Arts (MA), Washington State University
- Publisher
- Washington State University
- Number of pages
- 84
- Identifiers
- 99901019235201842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Thesis