My capstone project is a memoir of my mother in a letter format, where I tell my mother the story she forgot, who she was, where we were, and where we’re headed. After my mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 2013, my focus on telling my family history shifted from research of the family to recovery. The loss of my mother's insight and recollections prompted a shift in the narrative. She, one of the main characters in my story, became my most important audience. In a photo album approach, I aim to rebuild what seems lost. I am keeping the intergenerational path open by retelling her what she told me. This is a memoir for her and for me, in case I also need to remember.
","abstract_html":"<p>My capstone project is a memoir of my mother in a letter format, where I tell my mother the story she forgot, who she was, where we were, and where we’re headed. After my mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 2013, my focus on telling my family history shifted from research of the family to recovery. The loss of my mother's insight and recollections prompted a shift in the narrative. She, one of the main characters in my story, became my most important audience. In a photo album approach, I aim to rebuild what seems lost. I am keeping the intergenerational path open by retelling her what she told me. This is a memoir for her and for me, in case I also need to remember.</p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["García, Iliana Emilia"],"institution":"The Graduate School and University Center of The City University of New York","degree_name":"Master of Arts","degree_level":"Master","degree_discipline":"Biography and Memoir","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":[],"advisors":["André Aciman"],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2023,"date_issued":"2023-02-01T08:00:00Z","date_published":"2023-02-01T08:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T01:59:14Z","subjects":["Art Practice","Comparative Literature","Creative Writing","Latin American Languages and Societies","Nonfiction","Dominican Republic","memory","motherhood","family","history","life"],"languages":[],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://academicworks.cuny.edu/gc_etds/5184","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor.advisor","label":"Advisor","values":["André Aciman"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["García, Iliana Emilia"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2025-02-01T08:00:00Z"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Biography and Memoir"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Master"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Master of Arts"]},{"key":"thesis:institution_name","label":"Thesis Institution Name","values":["The Graduate School and University Center of The City University of New York"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["Art Practice","Comparative Literature","Creative Writing","Latin American Languages and Societies","Nonfiction","Dominican Republic","memory","motherhood","family","history","life"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://academicworks.cuny.edu/gc_etds/5184"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["My capstone project is a memoir of my mother in a letter format, where I tell my mother the story she forgot, who she was, where we were, and where we’re headed. After my mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 2013, my focus on telling my family history shifted from research of the family to recovery. The loss of my mother's insight and recollections prompted a shift in the narrative. She, one of the main characters in my story, became my most important audience. In a photo album approach, I aim to rebuild what seems lost. I am keeping the intergenerational path open by retelling her what she told me. This is a memoir for her and for me, in case I also need to remember.
"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Hands. Words. Mirrors. A letter to my mother."]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor.advisor":["André Aciman"],"dc:creator":["García, Iliana Emilia"],"dc:date.available":["2025-02-01T08:00:00Z"],"dc:description.abstract":["My capstone project is a memoir of my mother in a letter format, where I tell my mother the story she forgot, who she was, where we were, and where we’re headed. After my mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 2013, my focus on telling my family history shifted from research of the family to recovery. The loss of my mother's insight and recollections prompted a shift in the narrative. She, one of the main characters in my story, became my most important audience. In a photo album approach, I aim to rebuild what seems lost. I am keeping the intergenerational path open by retelling her what she told me. This is a memoir for her and for me, in case I also need to remember.
"],"dc:identifier":["https://academicworks.cuny.edu/gc_etds/5184"],"dc:subject":["Art Practice","Comparative Literature","Creative Writing","Latin American Languages and Societies","Nonfiction","Dominican Republic","memory","motherhood","family","history","life"],"dc:title":["Hands. Words. Mirrors. A letter to my mother."],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Biography and Memoir"],"thesis:degree_level":["Master"],"thesis:degree_name":["Master of Arts"],"thesis:institution_name":["The Graduate School and University Center of The City University of New York"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T01:59:14Z"}