Columbus State University
Unmasked and Unprotected: An Autistic Poet's Journey of Imperfect Confession
Abstract
dc:description.abstract<p>Cynthia Short’s thesis analyzes the consumption and contortion of neurodivergent experience across the clinical, personal, and artistic stages. Combining intersectional memoir with clinical research, traditional poetics, and spoken word experience, she weaves a first-person narrative of consumption and redefinition by systems that did not understand her. Yet, she argues that imperfect confession -done without self-knowledge, resources, or proper self-worth to resist consumption – still has its place. Her collection of twenty-nine self-authored poems serves as a testament to the growth her imperfect confession allowed, outlining her struggles with identity, clinical experimentation and economic survival in a world not meant for her.</p>
Degree
thesis:*- Name thesis:degree_name
- English Language and Literature - Creative Writing Concentration
- Level thesis:degree_level
- Thesis
- Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
- English
- Year
- 2026
Author and committee
dc:creator, dc:contributor.*- Author dc:creator
-
- Short, Cynthia
- Contributors dc:contributor
-
- Dr. Patrick Jackson
- Professor Natalie Temesgen
- Dr. Nancy Shore
Subjects
dc:subject × 4Rights
- Language dc:language
- English
Identifiers
dc:identifier.*- Repository record dc:identifier
- https://csuepress.columbusstate.edu/theses_dissertations/795
- OAI identifier oai:identifier
- oai:csuepress.columbusstate.edu:theses_dissertations-1780