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Eastern Kentucky University

Animal People

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

<p><em>Animal People</em> is a collection of nonfiction essays chronicling my experience working in the pet retail industry. The essays begin with my first day as a pet care associate at PetSmart and the essays include observations of rescue groups, interactions with kooky animal lovers, and my struggle to think and act rationally while combating (and sometimes enjoying) mental illness, specifically bipolar disorder. It is also an exploration of my childhood through various pets I had throughout my life.</p> <p>The methods that I used when crafting this collection include hands-on experience as an employee at a major pet retail chain, experimenting with essay form, and by utilizing subtext. The critical text <em>Crafting the Personal Essay</em>, by Dinty W. Moore, was especially valuable in the exploration of form and structure. For subtext, my thesis advisor read the collection and offered questions and insight so that I could fully realize the potential of the emotional aspect of working with and caring for animals.</p>

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Master of Fine Arts (MFA)
Level thesis:degree_level
Master's
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
English and Theatre
Grantor dc:publisher
Eastern Kentucky University
Year
2014

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Hamm, Mary Rachael

Subjects

dc:subject × 2

Rights

dc:rights
Statement dc:rights
  • Copyright 2014 Mary Rachael Hamm

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Repository record dc:identifier
https://encompass.eku.edu/etd/266
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:encompass.eku.edu:etd-1264

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
Eastern Kentucky University
Base URL
encompass.eku.edu/do/oai/
Last updated
2026-07-24
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Hamm, Mary Rachael. Animal People. Master's thesis, Eastern Kentucky University, 2014. https://encompass.eku.edu/etd/266