Self-Portrait of the Artist Stupid with Grief

Author

Franziska C. Hofhansel, The University Of Montana

Year of Award

2023

Document Type

Thesis - Campus Access Only

Degree Type

Master of Fine Arts (MFA)

Degree Name

Creative Writing (Fiction)

Department or School/College

Department of English

Committee Chair

Judy Blunt

Commitee Members

Ashby Kinch, Richard Drake

Keywords

Germany, Red Army Faction, Anti-fascism, Anarchist, Experimental, Novel

Subject Categories

Fiction

Abstract

This is a novel excerpt detailing the adventures of Liezel, the daughter of a German immigrant who, at the start of the novel, commits suicide, leaving Liezel desperate to understand why. Through her rambling monologues, we learn about their complex dynamic, her certainty that his past has been intentionally buried, and her relationship to art, capitalism, and labor. Much of this is fleshed out through her antics with her friend and artistic rival Lizard Madero. The two ultimately wind up at the center of an art theft, leaving each to define their own theories of ethics and theft under capitalism.

Recommended Citation

Hofhansel, Franziska C., "Self-Portrait of the Artist Stupid with Grief" (2023). Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers. 12145.
https://scholarworks.umt.edu/etd/12145