Oral Presentations
Green Grass: A Collection of Short Stories
Presentation Type
Presentation
Faculty Mentor’s Full Name
Robert Stubblefield
Faculty Mentor’s Department
English Department
Abstract / Artist's Statement
Within the country club setting, the levels of financial wealth span greatly, from young adults in search of summer employment to businessmen sealing deals on the 18th hole while retired couples vacation in spacious homes situated directly on the course. Often associated with privilege and luxury, golf is much more than just a game, involving defined dress codes, social events, organized leagues, and tournaments. Centered around the lives of staff and members of an Arizona country club, Green Grass is a collection of short stories that uses the game of golf to explore privilege, money, and motivation. Golf is a way of earning a necessary living for some. For others, it’s a way of life, as they spend countless hours and dollars on the mind-consuming sport. Hierarchical positions result and are defined, ultimately, by money.
With each story dedicated to a different character, the collection plays with class dynamics and highlights a variety of perspectives, contributing to the greater discussion of the tensions caused by wealth and desire in today’s society. The stories use golf as a lens to examine man’s control over both others and the land. This project draws inspiration from a number of works, including George Saunders’ Tenth of December as well as the stories of Raymond Carver and Jon McGregor. John Updike’s writings on golf and other accounts of the game helped shape the development of the country club setting, while craft books such as Ursula K. Le Guin’s Steering the Craft and James Wood’s How Fiction Works served as guides to writing and revision.
Category
Visual and Performing Arts (including Creative Writing)
Green Grass: A Collection of Short Stories
UC 333
Within the country club setting, the levels of financial wealth span greatly, from young adults in search of summer employment to businessmen sealing deals on the 18th hole while retired couples vacation in spacious homes situated directly on the course. Often associated with privilege and luxury, golf is much more than just a game, involving defined dress codes, social events, organized leagues, and tournaments. Centered around the lives of staff and members of an Arizona country club, Green Grass is a collection of short stories that uses the game of golf to explore privilege, money, and motivation. Golf is a way of earning a necessary living for some. For others, it’s a way of life, as they spend countless hours and dollars on the mind-consuming sport. Hierarchical positions result and are defined, ultimately, by money.
With each story dedicated to a different character, the collection plays with class dynamics and highlights a variety of perspectives, contributing to the greater discussion of the tensions caused by wealth and desire in today’s society. The stories use golf as a lens to examine man’s control over both others and the land. This project draws inspiration from a number of works, including George Saunders’ Tenth of December as well as the stories of Raymond Carver and Jon McGregor. John Updike’s writings on golf and other accounts of the game helped shape the development of the country club setting, while craft books such as Ursula K. Le Guin’s Steering the Craft and James Wood’s How Fiction Works served as guides to writing and revision.