Scapegrace
Files
Date
2020
Authors
Palmer, Emily Francine
Editors
Advisors
Prosser, Rosslyn
Hennessy, Rachel
Hennessy, Rachel
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Type:
Thesis
Citation
Statement of Responsibility
Conference Name
Abstract
This thesis comprises of an original young adult novel, Scapegrace, and an exegesis exploring the erasure of the female body in young adult cross-dressing narratives. Scapegrace is a feminist fantasy novel that unravels what it means to be a woman in a man’s world. In a setting inspired by the hedonistic Regency period, two worlds clash; the Decadents, in their glittering mansions, and the Grafter gangs in the slums below. Having spent the last four years slipping between the cracks of the city system, Lily Vance’s life is set to change when a burst of power is torn from her – a power that only the male Decadents are supposed to possess. Kidnapped by a group intent on using her newfound abilities to their advantage, she is forced to choose; is she Lily or Lee? The exegesis explores the key tropes of young adult (YA) fantasy fiction that features female-to-male cross-dressing. Twelve novels are analyzed (including the creative work), noting common tropes such as breast binding, masculine imitation, protagonist age and point-of-view. The main essay focusses on the absence of menstruation in cross-dressing novels. This is achieved through exploring current and historical views of menstruation from different cultures, ceremonies around menarche, and an in-depth look at menstruation in YA fantasy novels. The exegesis seeks to unpack the importance of the accurate depiction of menstruation in YA cross-dressing fantasy novels and why academic work around this topic also erases this natural bodily function and, by extension, the female body. The author reflects on her own creative piece and how Scapegrace (despite being self-consciously feminist) does not mention the cross-dressed protagonist’s experience of menstruation while masquerading a boy.
School/Discipline
School of Humanities : English and Creative Writing
Dissertation Note
Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Adelaide, School of Humanities, 2020
Provenance
This electronic version is made publicly available by the University of Adelaide in accordance with its open access policy for student theses. Copyright in this thesis remains with the author. This thesis may incorporate third party material which has been used by the author pursuant to Fair Dealing exceptions. If you are the owner of any included third party copyright material you wish to be removed from this electronic version, please complete the take down form located at: http://www.adelaide.edu.au/legals
Description
Vol. 1 Scapegrace : Novel -- Vol. 2 The (Absent) Female Body: Cross-dressing Narratives in Young Adult Fantasy Fiction : Exegesis